Cardiac/heart disease
We are providing this information to you to serve as a guide through your pre- and post-op process. Your particular journey may involve many or none of these steps. At UNOVA Hip & Knee Center, we strive to personalize each patient experience, we understand that every patient we encounter is an individual with unique concerns. This content is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition, those decisions should only be made after consultation with your treating surgeon and primary care physician.
At UNOVA Hip & Knee Center, although we believe every patient is unique, there are a few HARD STOP RULES that we must abide by before we can undertake your surgery. These rules exist to ensure your safety and to give us the best opportunity to help you achieve your desired outcome with the lowest possible chance of encountering a complication. THE PARAMETERS LINKED TO HARD STOPS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE.
There are a few general health issues and medical conditions that give us greater concern and as such these must be dealt with prior to your being scheduled for surgery.
If you have had a recent Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction (MI), Coronary artery Bypass Graft (CABG) or Heart Catheterization for ballooning or stents, your surgery may need to be delayed up to a year in order to allow your heart to heal. Any of these conditions will necessitate a clearance by your cardiologist.
Any pre-existing High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) must be well controlled prior to surgical scheduling. Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) must be controlled.
If you are on any anticoagulation medications or blood thinners for your A-Fib, they must be well managed prior to your surgery. Your Primary Care Physician (PCP) will inform the Hip and Knee Center team of any special instructions for their management.
All anticoagulants will need to be stopped prior to surgery to allow your blood to get back to its normal clotting capacity. Your primary care physician or cardiologist will need to inform your UNOVA Hip & Knee Center team in the clearance letter whether an Anticoagulation Bridge is necessary. Depending on the bridging protocol, you may need to have your surgery in the hospital and be admitted to the hospital a few days before your surgery to ensure that we can get your anticoagulation parameters to normal in the safest manner possible. You may also need to remain in the hospital for a period of time after your surgery to re-establish a therapeutic level for your blood anticoagulation.