Prosthetic cardiac valves

Thromboembolic complications of prosthetic cardiac valves.

Our experience with thromboembolism in 283 patients surviving at least 1 week following insertion of Starr-Edwards valves is reported here. Of these patients, 155 underwent aortic valve replacement, 21 had aortic valve replacement with mitral commissurotomy, 80 had mitral replacement, and 27 had both aortic and mitral valve replacement. Complete follow-up data were obtained on all patients, fro...

Cineradiographic evaluation of prosthetic cardiac valves.

SUMMARY Forty-nine patients whose clinical symptoms suggested a leaking cardiac prosthetic valve were studied by both cineradiography and angiocardiography. We found a wider range of tilting motion of the nonleaking mitral valve than has been previously shown. An angle of tilt greater than 60 for the prosthetic aortic valve strongly suggests separation of the prosthesis from its bed with a para...

Prosthetic Replacement of Cardiac Valves. Results in 242 Patients.

Low-intensity anticoagulation in mechanical cardiac prosthetic valves.

Retrospectively, we reviewed the charts of 101 patients at the University of Kansas Medical Center who received low-intensity anticoagulation for mechanical prosthetic valves implanted over a 17-yr period. The mean duration of follow-up was 4.6 yr, and the total duration of follow-up was 466.5 patient-yr. The patients' records were evaluated for evidence of hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complic...

Anticoagulation for Prosthetic Valves

Implantation of prosthetic valve requires consideration for anticoagulation. The current guideline recommends warfarin on all mechanical valves. Dabigatran is the new generation anticoagulation medication which is taken orally and does not require frequent monitoring. This drug is approved for treatment for atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism, but the latest large trial showed that t...