Perioperative Management of Lovaza
Introduction to Lovaza Management
- The American College of Chest Physicians recommends that medications such as vitamin K antagonists, antiplatelet agents, and anticoagulants be addressed in perioperative antithrombotic management guidelines, but Lovaza is not included in these guidelines due to its lack of clinically significant anticoagulant or antiplatelet effects 1, 2, 3
- Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in Lovaza, have minimal impact on surgical hemostasis compared to true antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications 1, 2
Medications Requiring Preoperative Management
- Aspirin should be continued in moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk patients, but stopped 7-10 days before surgery in low-risk patients, as recommended by the American College of Chest Physicians 1, 2, 3
- Clopidogrel/Prasugrel should be stopped 5-7 days before surgery unless the patient has recent coronary stent placement, according to the American College of Chest Physicians guidelines 1
- Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) should be stopped 24 hours before surgery, as suggested by medical insights 4