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| Patient Instructions : ASD and PFO Closure |
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| CLICK HERE for the PDF version of this document. (To download to your computer, please right click on the link provided and choose "Save Target As" then choose where you would like to download the document to on your computer..) |
| Hospital location: LDS Hospital Cardiac Short Stay/ North seven. Call 801-408-5772 after 3pm the day before to find out arrival time. |
| Medication instructions: |
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Aspirin 325mg at least 3 days before procedure |
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Stop plavix 75mg 3 days before your procedure |
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Stop Coumadin 3 days before procedure |
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Day of the procedure: no medications, nothing to eat, nothing to drink 12 hours prior to your procedure. |
| Discharge instructions: |
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Aspirin 325mg for 6 months after procedure |
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Plavix 75mg for 3 to 6 months after procedure |
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Do not discontinue these medications without checking with the Sorensen Cardiovascular Group first!! |
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Keflex for 2 days |
| Activity Restrictions: |
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Do not drive for 2 days |
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Resume all normal activities after 2 days with 2 restrictions: |
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| Avoid lifting over 50 pounds for one month |
| No contact sports or high level aerobic activity for one month |
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| Dental care Restrictions: |
| NO DENTAL WORK FOR 30 DAYS PRIOR AND 6 MONTHS POST PROCEDURE |
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No routine dental care for 6 months (including cleanings) |
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Antibiotics (your dentist can provide) for any urgent or emergent care during the first 6 months. Please inform your dentist.
Antibiotics are not needed after 6 months. |
| Surgery |
| NO ELECTIVE SURGERY FOR 6 MONTHS. Stopping Aspirin/ Plavix before 6 months from procedure and having surgery greatly increases the risk of stroke. |
| What To Expect….. |
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Incision site – bruising, tenderness, pea-size lump are normal. |
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Palpitations: awareness of heartbeat, fluttering, skipping, feeling short of breath, lump in throat are common – these require no treatment. |
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Chest pressure, tightness, mild discomfort in chest area are common – ibuprofen helps to relieve chest pressure/tightness |
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Bruising / Bleeding – more common because of Plavix/Aspirin use. Do not stop taking medication. |
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Migraines or headaches are common after the procedure. They will not resolve right away, this does not mean anything is wrong with the device. |
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Mild neurological symptoms such as; numbness and tingling in the upper or lower extremities may occur while healing. |
| When to be concerned…. |
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Fever from an unknown cause. |
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Neurological symptoms such as; loss of vision, paralysis, inability to speak need to be evaluated by the Sorensen Cardiovascular Group with an echocardiogram. |
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Severe chest pain or sustained fast heart rate need to be evaluated by the Sorensen Cardiovascular Group |
| Whom to call… |
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Primary care doctor for routine care. |
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Neurologist; for headache or migraine symptoms |
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Sorensen Cardiovascular Group; for device related problems such as chest pain, neurological symptoms as stated above, severe persistent Heart Rate disturbances |
| Follow up |
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One month follow up phone call |
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Three month follow up tcd and bubble echo |
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5% of patients need a 6 month tcd and bubble echo |
| Your contact resources are: |
Heather Aguilar, RN -
Neurovascular Coordinator
ha@sorensenmd.com |
Or call The Sorensen Cardiovascular Group @ 801-408-8420 |
