BLOOD THINNER POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
A common occurrence with patients taking coumadin or other blood thinners is slow oozing at the surgical site that does not stop with biting on gauze or a moistened tea bag. If this happens there are just a few additional steps to the regular post-operative instructions that you need to carry out:
- If after a few hours the bleeding does not seem to stop, look at the area and see if there is a clot on top of the surgical site that looks like a piece of “jello” or “liver”. This poor quality clot is like a cushion preventing you from applying direct pressure to the surgical site to stop the bleeding when you bite on the gauze, since every time you bite down on the “jello” or “liver” clot it is like a soft sponge.
- Wash your hands and gently wipe the “jello” clot away with your finger until you see the gums and extraction socket. This will be comfortable and easy to do. Now replace the gauze or moistened tea bag back to the site and make sure that you are biting firmly on the gums and not the adjacent teeth.