“Can you have an epidural while on blood thinners?”
I am a 37 year old female. I want to know you can have an epidural while on blood thinners?
12 Answers
You should discontinue at least for 1 to 2 weeks. Depends on the medication.
NO
No
It could be problematic due to possible bleeding. You need to discuss with your surgeon, aneshesiologist as well as with your primary care doctor, who prescribed your blood thinner. You may discontinue your blood thinner temporarily for the surgery and resume after the surgery.
Most anticoagulants (blood thinners) must be stopped before an epidural is administered. The time which the anticoagulant is stopped is dependent upon which 'blood thinner' is taken. This may range from 6 hours to several days. Laboratory data can help with this decision but many of the newer medications must be stopped several days prior to epidural placement. Coordination between your primary physician and your anesthesiologist can usually allow for epidural placement for planned procedures such as childbirth.
No
From Christopher Creighton
From Christopher Creighton
No. The blood thinners have to be stopped for a specific number of hours or days (depending on the type and dose of blood thinner) before a patient can receive any type of neuraxial technique (spinal, epidural).
The answer to this question depends on the type and dose of blood thinner. If you’re on blood thinners as full anticoagulation for some condition that requires it, then an epidural would be contraindicated. If the blood thinners are just for prophylaxis to prevent blood clots then there are certain guidelines set by ASRA concerning which blood thinners can be given and what time frames relative to catheter insertion and removal, which are the two highest risk times for epidural hematoma formation.
Yes to aspirin but no to any other thinners. Duration of stopping depends
No. Not recommended.
Only if you're on baby aspirin. Otherwise, there is a waiting period before an epidural can be placed safely depending on the type of blood thinner.
No, you can't have an epidural while on blood thinners because there is a risk of bleeding and pressure in the epidural space.
