Foods and Medicines That Should Not Be Taken Before Surgery

The process of preparing for urological operations is not limited only to the day of the operation or to medical procedures. The medicines patients use in their daily lives, the foods they consume and the herbal supplements they prefer are also of great importance for the safety of the operation. Some habits continued without awareness can cause unexpected complications after the operation. For this reason, which products carry risk and which need to be stopped in the pre-surgical period must be assessed carefully.

What Should Be Paid Attention to Before Urological Operations?

Urological surgeries (prostate surgery, bladder operation, kidney surgery, etc.) are generally procedures that carry a risk of bleeding. For this reason the blood clotting system is of great importance. However, medicines, supplements and certain natural foods that affect this system can increase the risk of complications without one being aware of it.

1- Blood-Thinning Medicines: When Should They Be Stopped?

Blood-thinning medicines are the group of medicines that most frequently need attention. They are used regularly particularly by individuals with cardiovascular disease. However, most of these medicines need to be stopped before the operation:

Medicines That Need to Be Stopped:

• Warfarin (Coumadin, Marevan): must be stopped 5-7 days beforehand
• DOACs (Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis, Lixiana): 24-48 hours before
• Aspirin and its derivatives (Coraspin, Ecopirin, Cardioaspirin): 7-10 days before
• Clopidogrel (Plavix, Brilinta, Effient): 3-7 days before

Doctor's supervision is essential. Stopping blood thinners can sometimes be risky for heart patients. For this reason the medicine must not be discontinued without the approval of a cardiology specialist.

2- Herbal Supplements and Natural Products

A great many people think of herbal products as "natural and harmless". Yet many of these products can also affect blood clotting and cause uncontrolled bleeding after the operation.

Herbal Supplements That Can Increase Bleeding:

• Ginkgo biloba: disrupts platelet functions. It must be stopped 10 days beforehand.
• Ginseng: shows a warfarin-like effect, must be stopped 7 days beforehand.
• Ginger (high dose): prevents clotting, no more than 4 grams should be taken.
• Garlic supplement: increases fibrin breakdown, must be stopped at least 7 days beforehand.
• Chamomile, dong quai, feverfew: these are supplements with an antiplatelet effect, they must not be used before surgery.
• Omega-3 supplements: at a high dose (>3g a day) they show an anticoagulant effect.

Note: most of these products may be in the form of herbal tea, capsules or natural supplements. Their content must be checked carefully.

3- Foods With a Blood-Thinning Effect

Some common foods can also thin the blood when consumed excessively. These foods must be consumed in moderation before surgery:

4- The Use of Alcohol and Cigarettes

Alcohol

• By disrupting liver functions it can cause the thinning of the blood.
• Before surgery heavy alcohol consumption must be stopped.

Cigarettes

• They narrow the blood vessels and show a thickening effect on the blood.
• It is recommended that they be given up at least 1 month before the operation.

5- Pre-Surgical Check-Ups and Preparation

Patients need to give their doctors the following information in full before the operation:

• All prescription medicines they use
• Herbal supplements and vitamins
• Nutritional supplements and habits (alcohol, cigarettes, ginger/garlic supplement, etc.)

Blood tests:

• Parameters such as INR, aPTT, platelet count and bleeding time must be checked before the operation.

Conscious Preparation, Safe Surgery

Preparation for urological operations is not limited only to the day of the operation. Particularly medicines, herbs and habits that affect the blood can directly affect the success of the operation. For this reason:

• Inform your doctor of every supplement and medicine.
• Do not forget that herbal products can also carry risk.
• If necessary, make temporary changes to your diet.

👉 For a healthy surgical process, being conscious and careful before the operation is of vital importance.