Anticoagulation after Heart Valve Replacement

Abstract

In an attempt to minimize thromboembolic complicatio‘s after heart valve replacements a proper program for postoperative anticoagulant treatment seems to be of major importance (1). An aggressive approach towards the initiation and early postoperative anticoagulant treatment has been applied with good results at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.Results: Between 1980 and 1986, 1193 patients were operated with heart valve replacements (mainly mechanical prostheses). Early follow-up was 30 days postoperatively and during this period three were no valve thrombosis not any episodes of systemic embolism when the program was fully applied.