About P. Ravi Sarma <B>MD</B> Expertise I am board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Geriatrics. I was on the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta from 1979 to 1995, holding the position of Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) at the univerisity and Associate Professor of Human Oncology at the Winship Cancer Center at the time of my leaving Emory.I have been in private practice since 1995 in Metro Atlanta area in Gwinnett county. Our group consists of four oncologists, with three offices in Gwinnett County, Ga.
Experience worked on and published several papers in the area of clinical oncology.
Question Hello. My father is 83 years old. He was admitted to the hospital with deep vein thrombosis. He underwent surgery with an epidural. Ediventally, he also was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my mother was present in the room when the doctor mentioned in an "off hand way" the fact that he could be released soon and for him to keep in mind the prostate cancer. He has been receiving heparin IV. He now has four preseciptions to help with his condition, Lasix, K-Dur, Levaquip and Zantac. The first time he had a blood clot (in his calf, this current time it was located in his thigh) he was put on Coumidon for a long time after he was discharged. My question is why is he not on any type of therapy for the clot as he was the previous time.What do these other prescriptions mean? I've researched them on the internet and it seems they are for kidney trouble. Dad's kidneys were checked in the hospital as well as his lungs with tests and he received an MRI on his leg and a CT scan, twice. Thank you very much.
Answer If your father had a recent blood clot, he should be on coumadin. Sometimes we do not continue coumadin, if there is a greater risk of bleeding. Levaquin is an antibiotic. Lasix is a water pill that is given to take care of any swelling in the body (generally ankles/legs) Zantac is for acid indigestion or heart burn.
You should ask to make an appointment with your doctor or his medical assistant to go over the diagnoses and treatments. sometimes in the elderly, prostate cancer can be an incidental finding and does not need to be treated.
You need to hear all this information from your father's doctor.
