Podiatrist Authors Guidelines for Taking Blood Thinners Before Surgery

For people taking blood thinners, including aspirin and warfarin, the risk of an invasive procedure is a serious concern. Guidelines authored by Dr. Steven Miller, a Chicago-area podiatrist, will help doctors who perform foot and ankle surgery tackle this important subject.

Increased bleeding from anticlotting drugs, or blood thinners, is especially a concern when someone is having a procedure or operation.  New guidelines will help doctors advise the millions of Americans people who take blood thinners whether or not to take them before foot and ankle surgery. This guidance was authored by Dr. Steven Miller in conjunction with other clinicians in related specialties at NorthShore University HealthSystem and is published in the December 2014 print issue of Foot & Ankle Specialist®.

For every medical procedure or surgery, doctors decide if medication should be continued or temporarily stopped. For many minor procedures, the bleeding risk from continuing blood thinners is fairly small. For other procedures, the risk of bleeding may be higher when blood thinners are continued. This analysis will help doctors and patients understand what the available evidence tells us about these different risks.

Dr. Steven Miller is a board-certified podiatrist specializing in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of diseases and disorders of the foot and ankle. For more information about Dr. Miller, visit  www.SkokiePodiatry.com .

About the Office:

Skokie Foot & Ankle Specialists was founded by Dr. Steven Miller, a board-certified podiatrist specializing in treating foot and ankle disorders in Chicago and surrounding communities. Dr. Miller's accomplishments include publications in nationally-recognized journals, including the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery and Ostomy and Wound Management. He has served as reviewer for the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association and Dermatologic Surgery, and lectures at medical centers. The goal of Skokie Foot & Ankle Specialists is to educate each patient about their foot and ankle, and provide treatment with the greatest quality of care. For more information, visit  www.SkokiePodiatry.com .