Challenges of managing patients with mechanical heart valve thrombosis in pregnancy: A case series

Mechanical valve thrombosis is a feared complication in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves (MHV). It associated high maternal and foetal morbidity mortality. Optimal anticoagulation strategies for MHV remain controversial. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are the most effective treatment regimen to prevent therefore considered safest mother. However, VKAs increase risk of embryopathy, foetopathy, haemorrhage loss. A particular challenge balance need adequate during pregnancy against bleeding, teratogenicity fetotoxicity. In this case series, we describe complexity management patients MHV, 2 approaches thrombosis. Our series high-lights that strategy should be individualised, best provided by multidisciplinary cardio-obstetric team.