Interv Akut Kardiol. 2012;11(2):59-66

Antithrombotic therapy after heart valve surgery

Miroslava Benešová

Kardiochirurgické oddělení, Nemocnice Na Homolce, Praha

Degenerative valve disease is a growing problem because of the rising amount of degenerative heart valve disease and valve replacement

operations among the elderly. More than 300, 000 prosthetic heart valve replacements are performed each year worldwide and this rate

is projected to increase to as many as 850,000 per year by 2050. There is a higher risk of thromboembolic events following heart valve

surgery; and anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies are necessary. The drug therapy selection is dependent on the type of surgery

performed and the individual risk of the patient in any given situation. This article review assesses the benefit and risks of various therapy

schemes as recommended by Czech, European and American Associations of Cardiologists and Cardiosurgeons.

heparin, low molecular weight heparin, aspirin, embolism, thrombosis.

Keywords: mechanical heart valve prosthesis, bioprosthesis, plastic valves, anticoagulation, antiagregation, warfarin, unfractionated

Published: April 23, 2012  Show citation