Does anyone here know anything about blood tests? I had a test called " bleed time " one hour before my scheduled surgery. The doctor, at the last minute cancelled the surgery saying that my clotting took longer than he was comfortable with. He said that the standard time for clotting should be between 3-8 minutes. Mine took 14 minutes. I am scheduled for the same surgery on June 12th. This time I am having a test done about three days ahead of my scheduled surgery. Also this test is called " serum test ". Can anyone tell me if either test is more accurate than the other?
Mon, 06/04/2007 - 13:57
#1
Lab test
Bleeding times are done routinely pre-op. This is no be issue to cancel the surgery and to wait. Generally the doc will give you a med to change the clotting time. It's prob. being repeated again and being followed with what is called a PT/PTT test. Both are accurate, but they serve very different purposes.
Bleeding times measure how long it takes for bleeding to stop and has to do with platelet functions. Prothrombin tests measure in ratios. I would assume you are on coumadin?
As in the pm we exchanged, there is the prothymbin time and the INR that are routinely used. The US was the holdout as the rest of the world switched to the INR. In our NHS we actually have tables that covnert between the two in case we received US patients with history of blood thinners. I believe that everyone is now using INR.
These two tests are gross indicators. They are cheap, easy and give us what we need to know quickly. If there are special situations, there are several blood factors that can be tested by a hematologist. These tests are costly, take a long time and give specific information not usually needed pre-op. The serum test falls into this category and that is the reason for the early draw.
You earlier said you were not on warfarin (coumadin) but were on 81 mg ASA. I assume you have stayed off this.
We are just beginning to use the INR as you stated, but the use is still limited by some physicians; therefore, the full potential of the test is not being instituted. As you assert, several studies (I think the University of Mass was one) are rendering bleeding tests as poor indicators and suggest the PT & INR as a more reliable study. The only exception is Von Willebrands disease.
Also, your doctor should have told you no aspirin and no Advil preop, some even are going to the extent of no Tylenol.
[QUOTE=sera300;181198]We are just beginning to use the INR as you stated, but the use is still limited by some physicians; therefore, the full potential of the test is not being instituted. As you assert, several studies (I think the University of Mass was one) are rendering bleeding tests as poor indicators and suggest the PT & INR as a more reliable study. The only exception is Von Willebrands disease.
Also, your doctor should have told you no aspirin and no Advil preop, some even are going to the extent of no Tylenol.[/QUOTE]
I was told (and stopped ) to stop taking the 81mg aspirin two weeks before the scheduled surgery. Was told to continue taking my Lisinopril as usual.