What to do before you have a cardiac device implant

• Patients should have recent blood work and a chest X ray . This will be arranged by our clinic staff for you.

• Don’t take breakfast on the morning of the procedure but you may take your usual medication.

• Generally omit anti blood clotting medication like aspirin and plavix for 5 days before the procedure unless advised by the electrophysiologist.

• Patients on warfarin can stay on warfarin after checking the INR trend with the electrophysiologist.

• Patients on newer blood thinning drugs like Pradaxa, Xeralto and Apixaban need to omit these for 24 to 48 hours before the procedure.

• Arrive at the booked ward early in preparation for the procedure.

• If this procedure is to done as a day procedure have someone drive you to and from the hospital.

• You will have the implant area either the left or right chest wall prepared and cleaned.

• Intravenous antibiotics will be given.

• Please notify the staff of any allergies including an allergy to plasters or latex gloves.