Study: Plavix should be stopped before heart surgery

(U.S. News and World Report) UPDATED 2008-11-10

A new study has found supporting evidence for guidelines that recommend patients stop taking the blood thinner Plavix before undergoing bypass surgery. The study, which is published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that patients who took Plavix less than five days before having a bypass operation had a higher risk of excess bleeding, were more likely to require a second operation, and would spend more time in the hospital. However, the guidelines also say that bypass surgery can be done on people who have been taking Plavix in cases where the need for surgery is urgent and the risk of extra bleeding is deemed acceptable. Read full story >

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