Cedars-Sinai has updated its therapy guidelines for Plavix® to include additional guidelines related to post-operative management of patients on this medication. To get the word out to physicians, the medical center hosted a Halloween breakfast event in the South Tower physician's parking area that included handouts on the new guidelines. Another medical staff event will be hosted on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the mezzanine level.

Click here to view a PDF copy of the entire list of therapy guidelines. For more information, please contact the medical center's new Plavix hotline at 310-423-DRUG (ext. 3-3784).

These new guidelines emphasize the need for all members of the medical staff, nursing staff and allied health professionals who perform invasive or surgical procedures, or who care for patients taking these medications, to be aware of the potentially catastrophic risks of premature discontinuation of thienopyridine therapy, as well as the possibility of periprocedural bleeding.