Platelet levels and surgery

Hi all,

I am possibly going to have sinus surgery for chronic sinus infections. Does anyone know what levels you need to have before surgery? I will of course get in contact with my hematologist if I end up having the surgery. I was just looking for a quick answer and I couldn't find anything on the web.

I would just like to avoid steroids if possible. I have horrible reactions to them. Also I am a teacher so I would like to get this done and over with before the school year starts. Having to coordinate all the doctors appointments seems overwhelming right now.

Tina

Hi Tina, welcome! I think it all depends on the doctor. I had 2 major surgeries and I was given IVIG before each so I was above 100k. The same surgeon did them both and he usually has platelets on hand. What are your counts like? Any symptoms?

100k is normally considered safe for surgeries, some can be done at 50k but it is up to the surgeon. What are you having done? I was supposed to have three procedures on my sinuses years ago but never went through with it because the success rate was only 40% and it would have been a difficult recovery. I can only remember two of them - deviated septum and enlarged turbinates.

I think it depends on the doctors and anesthesiologists. I am due for hand surgery and over a month ago my count was 87k - hematologist ok with it, surgeon ok with it, anesthesiologist who reviewed my record ok with it but was told it will depend on the anesthesiologist assigned to me that morning. And another count was done yesterday, no results yet.

When I had dental surgery [cut through gum and bone] he wasn't going to do it unless I had a normal count - he finally agreed since hematologist and PCP said it was ok.

So it all depends - I'd get with your hematologist now, and I'd have him and the surgeon start communicating.


Good luck to you! My nephew had extensive sinus surgery a few months back and is so happy with the results he wished he had done it sooner.

It really does depend upon the doctors and your own personal symptom history.

I had my shoulder worked on 10 years ago with a count of 52k. I was using Cyclosporine at the time for ITP. The sports medicine surgeon was not worried at all. He talked it over with me and then my hematologist (same hospital system). Everything went smoothly and it was a non-event.

Actually....I got a bonus from the surgery! At that time I had RSD in my right arm. The normal course of ganglia nerve blocks and that crappy Nuerotin did nothing for it over the course of 5 years. However, the double immobilization nerve blocks that the anesthesiologist did (before putting me under) completely stopped the RSD feedback loop. He said it might and he was correct.
One acronym down, one to go.

.

Hi,

I've had 4 surgeries since ITP diagnosis and each time surgeons consulted with my
hematologist and set 100k as the minimum.
but I agree with others .... it depends on circumstances and the doctors.

SUPERDAVE