Common Antidepressant Medications Tied To Increased Risk of Complications During Surgery
Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) August 07, 2013 -- The importance of understanding mental health illnesses has never been as necessary as it is today, and according to a recent article published May 1st to OutPatientSurgery.net, undergoing any type of surgery while taking certain antidepressants could gravely increase the risk of complications during a procedure. Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS, and expert facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Los Angeles sees these new findings as a wake-up call for medical professionals and patients alike.
“This new study states that patients who take antidepressant medications around the time of their surgery can experience excessive bleeding and death. This is why it’s extremely important for patients to disclose their medical history to their doctors, and why patients should always visit specialists for their procedures,” said Dr. Azizzadeh.
The research, which came from the University of California—San Francisco and Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts, examined more than 530,000 patients across 375 hospitals nationwide over a two-year period. With credible findings, the study ultimately concluded that certain serotonin inhibitors including name brands like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil can impede the blood’s natural ability to clot, therefore leading to unwarranted blood loss.
“Guidelines have not yet been drafted whether patients can go through surgery while taking these medications; however, we will need to look into it quickly in order to make sure patient safety is maintained. The safety of the patient should always be at the forefront of the procedure,” said Dr. Azizzadeh, world-renowned facial plastic surgeon.
At the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS, makes sure all patients receive proper pre-operative clearance before undergoing any type of cosmetic or reconstructive surgery through careful physical and mental examinations.
“If a patient needs to stop medication before a surgery can be carried out, there are alternative medicines that can be prescribed. My goal is to always make the experience of the patient as optimal as possible, and this includes being extremely thorough before I ever enter the operating room,” said Dr. Azizzadeh.
Dr. Azizzadeh is a world-renowned facial plastic surgeon and the author of five bestselling books, including the popular consumer guidebook "Beverly Hills Beauty Secrets." He was recognized as a Beauty Expert in 2012, and has been featured in popular media outlets such as Entertainment Tonight, The Doctors, LA Times and the NY Times. Dr. Azizzadeh serves on the Physician Advisory Board of Sanofi-Aventis, Mysoscience, Mentor, and SkinMedica, and was awarded the RealSelf Top Botox Experts Award in 2011. As a Harvard trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Azizzadeh has a unique understanding of both facial aesthetics and function.
If you’d like additional information regarding Dr. Azizzadeh or the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, please call (310) 657-2203 or visit http://www.facialplastics.info.
Risa Luksa, The Center for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery, http://www.facialplastics.info/, 310-657-2203, [email protected]
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