Instructions for Your Dorsal Column Stimulator Trial
If you have an appointment for a dorsal column stimulator, you must comply with the following instructions:
1. For 7 days before your procedure, 5 days while the leads are in place and 24 hours after the leads are removed (113 days total) you must discontinue all:
Prescription blood thinners – you must obtain permission to do so from the physician who is prescribing your blood thinner and we must receive a copy of that clearance prior to being scheduled.
All aspirin products. This includes regular strength aspirin, baby or 81 mg aspirin, Goody’s and BC powders, Alka Seltzer and any other over the counter medicine that includes aspirin
Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medication (NSAIDS) such as Motrin/ibuprofen and Aleve/naproxen
Fish Oil, Krill Oil
Vitamin E
2. You must have a driver and the driver must remain in the waiting room or in the vehicle during the procedure. After the procedure, someone will instruct you and your driver on what to expect and how to operate your stimulator during the trial.
3. You must have your labs drawn 3 or 4 days prior to the procedure appointment.
4. You must be NPO (nothing by mouth) after midnight. You may take only blood pressure and heart medicine with a sip of water (no more than 1-2 ounces) the morning of your procedure.
Medication Instructions for Dorsal Column Stimulator Trial
| Medication | Days/hours must be off BEFORE procedure | Days/hours must be off AFTER procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Aggrastat (tirofiban) | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Aggrenox (dipyridamole and aspirin) | 7 days | 24 hours |
| Arixtra (fondaparinux) | 4 days | 24 hours |
| Brilinta (ticagrelor) | 5 days | 24 hours |
| Coumadin (warfarin) | 5 days | 24 hours |
| Effient (prasugrel) | 10 days | 24 hours |
| Eliquis (apixaban) | 3 days | 24 hours |
| Fragmin (dalteparin) | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Integrelin (eptifibatide) | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Kengreal (cangrelor) | 3 hours | 24 hours |
| Lovenox (enoxaparin) | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Plavix (clopidogrel) | 7 days | 24 hours | Pradaxa (dabigatran) | 6 days | 24 hours | Reopro (abciximab) | 5 days | 24 hours | Savaysa (edoxaban) | 3days | 24 hours | Xarelto (rivaroxaban) | 3 days | 24 hours |
or call us at (901) 747-0040