Heart valves anticoagulation
Common Questions and Answers about Heart valves anticoagulation
heart
The use of a metallic valve requires the long-term use of anticoagulation without ever stopping. Those valves tend to last longer. Tissue valves do not require long-term anticoagulation but have a limited lifespan (typically 10-15 years).
Most of the patient's I see end up getting a tissue valve because of the anticoagulation issue. Also, if a new valve is required in the future, percutanous options will likely be available while that will not be an option with a mechanical valve.
Coumadin pre-operatively, as you state one considers the risks of hemorrhage or thromboembolism versus the benefit from the operation. When considering noncardiac surgery, these factors and the need to weigh the risk of hemorrhage against that of thromboembolism must analyzed on an individual patient basis.
Certain procedures such as a bunion that are not procedure that threatens limb or life are easy analysis.
Should i go with a mechaical valve or a tissue valve? I am 38 yrs old. I had open heart Dec. 2008, and now one yr later I must go in again. I have a tissue valve now.
Then, once the decision is made to replace the valve the next decision has to be what kind of valve to use. Bioprothetic valves do not require anticoagulation with coumadin, but in your age group have much less longevity than mechanical valves probably because of a very active immune system. The average expectancy for such a valve in a young patient is probably 9 years. Mechanical valves last longer but do require anticoagulation.
Tissue valves can either wear out or become calcified and stiffen over time. However, they are better valves for use in childbearing years, as I’ll soon explain. Mechanical valves are much more durable, and can last up to a lifetime. However, they require lifelong anticoagulation with medications such as warfarin, so that blood clots don’t form on the valve. Warfarin can cause major birth defects for unborn fetuses, and thus becomes more problematic for use during childbearing.
If you have a mechanical valve, you need to use blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medication for life to prevent blood clots from forming on the valve. Tissue valves generally come from a pig, cow or human-cadaver donor heart. These kinds of valves wear out over time, and you may need another operation to replace the valve. However, an advantage of the tissue valve is that you don't have to use long-term anticoagulation medication.
The most common indication for mitral valve replacement is mitral regurgitation or mitral stenosis, which is increasingly caused by degenerative mitral valve disease rather than by rheumatic heart disease.
Age alone does not contraindicate valve replacement or repair.
A tissue valve will normally last only for 10-15 years. Mechanical valves are generally appropriate for a majority of patients 65 years old and younger
The choice for a 26 year old person would normally be not so difficult.
There is however a new procedure evolving very quickly with which it is possible to repair valves via a catheter (TAVI procedure). It is to be expected that surgeons will be able to repair a defect prosthetic tissue valve through such a procedure within 15 years.
0. Some people, such as those who have two mechanical heart valves, have a prescribed range of 3.0 to 4.0, so an INR of 4.0 is considered therapeutic for them. In fact, bleeding due to a high INR almost never happens below 5.0. I've occasionally had INRs in the 6 to 7 range, and I've never had any bleeding from it.
Dizziness, double vison, extremity pain and numbness are not among the known side effects of warfarin.
The problems with this valve are that they do not grow with the child, and they require anticoagulation to prevent them from clotting. Because of the low velocity flow on the right side of the heart and concern for clotting, mechanical valves have not routinely been used in the pulmonary position, though there are some places that are re-examining this concept.
Finally, something that has been on the horizon for a while is the concept of a tissue-engineered valve.
t help any of the current heart condtions. Sometimes, as one ages there is some calicification of the heart valves that cause some leakage, and really not considered medically significant unless the leakage is moderate to severe, then there may be some shortness of breath, chest pains, etc.
Thanks for sharing and if you have any further questions you are welcome to respond. Take care.
In July my cardiologist said I have early signs of sick sinus syndrome. I have a low resting heart rate of 50, drops to mid to high 30's at times during night, otherwise in 40's during night. In October I had an event monitor for a month. Dr. said it shows I have SVT/AFIB and prescribed Propafanone. After reviewing this drug and all the other similar ones, I decided not to take it. I'm taking 325 mg of aspirin a day.
is it fatal? What's treatment
This discussion is related to <a href="/posts/Heart-Disease/How-dangerous-is-a-blood-clot-in-the-heart/show/250812">How dangerous is a blood clot in the heart?</a>.
Anticoagulant medications prevent blood clots, especially in patients who have heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation or have had heart valve surgery and have a replacement valve made of metallic material". source Mayo Clinic. I think this was explained on another thread.
Mayo Clinic one of the leading hospital for valve problems.
Minimally invasive heart valve surgeries are surgeries that use smaller incisions than the ones typically used to operate on the heart valves. During a minimally invasive heart valve surgery, the breastbone is not completely divided and retracted. Rather, surgeons use a variety of smaller incisions to gain access to the heart.
There are a number of advantages to minimally invasive heart surgery.
My husband has had Arrhythmia for about a year and a half. It started out and would come when ever. He has had a electrophesiaologist study done and is on beta blockers only when it occurs. The studys didn't pin point where his heart was misfiring and they said there was no reason why it is going on. About 3 months now it comes for 2 weeks and then it is gone for 2 weeks. Why the pattern? His Arrhythmia is like his heart skips a beat. I can put my head on his chest and hear it.
Theheart valves are damaged by the cancer, and it may cause the valves to malfunction. In severe cases, the heart valves may need to be replaced. Unfortunately, this is often a sign of very advanced cancer and carries a poor prognosis. Another rare type of cancer known as carcinoid tumor at times produces hormones that can damage heart valves.
in 2010 i had a echocardigram done it showed 3 leaking valves main one my aorta ..had one done in may it was only a 5 minute silent one showed only 2 valves leaking the aorta was not even on the results...can a valve stop leaking on its own?my new dr is doing another echo next month,,,but i also had 2 abnormal stress test in may too i was throwing pvc's.
I am a 27 year old female, in very good physical condition and was just told by my PCP that I have 2 heart valves that are "slightly" leaky. The cardiologist called these leaks "not impressive". This conclusion was reached after I had an echocardiogram. The reason I initially saw my PCP was for what felt like palpatations in my chest and slight chest discomfort. He heard a murmur so I was sent for the echo.
How concerned should I be about the valves (had an echo 3 years ago and no valve problem at that time) and how do I overcome the pain in the chest, neck and palpatations without always thinking there is an upcoming heart problem. Heart cath revealed "non critical heart condition", Holter monitor OK, tachycardia but normal rythmn, some premature beats...
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