Preventing postop gout

After an operation, no one wants to get an attack of gout. Typically, gout starts four days after surgery, affects the big toe, and often affects several joints at once. Risk factors for getting gout after surgery are

• History of gout
• High uric acid levels (>9 g/dl)
• Surgery for cancer

To reduce the risk of gout after surgery, lower the patient's uric acid levels (preferably to below 7 mg/dl) or give colchicine to those whose levels remain high.

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Source: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2008;67:1271-1275