Is it possible to have a plastic surgeon perform a male calf implant on a patient who is on warfarin therapy with a target INR of 1.5-2.0 (mechanical On-X aortic valve replacement), by working with the patient's cardiologist on the appropriate Lovenox bridging plan? Really hoping to get this procedure done. Thank you very much.
I think working closely with cardiologist and hematologist it can be done.
Yest it can surely be done. Fortunately the Implant pocket rarely bleeds and the incision site's bleeding is easy to control. Technical expertise and Cardiologist interconsultation can male it happen, no doubt.
It can be done but a few considerations. Every time you stop your blood thinners with an aortic valve you do risk developing a blood clot at the site of the valve which can be fatal. You need to discuss with your cardiologist what the risk of this is. Also, once you go back on your blood thinners there is an increased risk of bleeding even if it is a type of surgery where minimal bleeding is expected.
If you develop a bleed, then the blood thinners have to be stopped and you may need to return to the operating room to evacuate the blood. So this procedure is not without risk, and more risk than if you were not on any blood thinners
I would also recommend getting this done at a hospital and not at a surgical center .