Abstract
Case Report: A 55-year-old woman with a mechanical aortic prosthesis was admitted with pulmonary edema and suspect of valvular malfunction. The patient had a anticoagulation therapy at the time with low-molecular-weight heparin only. Echocardiography confirmed a failing mobility of a prosthetic valve leaflet. Emergency aortic valve replacement was performed. Conclusion: According to international approved guidelines an adequate anticoagulation after mechanical prosthetic heart valve replacement is provided either by oral anticoagulants, or, in the case of pregnancy or surgical procedures, by unfractioned heparins. The use of low-molecular-weight heparin as sole anticoagulant remains a matter of controversy in the literature. In recent years low-molecular-weight heparins were mainly administered for prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and instable angina.
| Translated title of the contribution | Thrombosis of a mechanical prosthetic heart valve after inadequate anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Pages (from-to) | 482-484 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Herz |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2001 |