A 60-year-old man with no significant past medical history is scheduled for elective cholecystectomy. He has been taking aspirin daily. Preoperative recommendations should include which of the following?: (A) Determination of prothrombin time (PT), (B) Estimation of platelet count, (C) Discontinuation of aspirin 2 days before surgery, (D) Discontinuation of aspirin at least 1 week before surgery
Answer is D. Discontinuation of aspirin at least 1 week before surgery. Aspirin inactivates platelet cyclo-oxygenase and thus inhibits platelet aggregation. The effect of aspirin is irreversible and lasts for the entire life span of the platelets. Therefore, aspirin should be discontinued for at least 1 week before surgery.