Clinical observation of postoperative warfarin anticoagulation in 300 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement with a carbomedics mechanical valve.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-intensity warfarin treatment in Chinese patients after mitral valve replacement as well as the rationality of the INR standards of the hospital (The First People's Hospital of Jining City).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 270 cases in our hospital from January 2009 to December 2013; 239 patients completed the 5-year follow-up. There were 192 male and 78 female subjects, age 32-65 years old with a mean age 51.51 ± 12.12 years old. All eligible candidates received a Carbomedics artificial mechanical valve replacement and were anticoagulated under this hospital's current guidelines for postoperative anticoagulant therapy mitral valve replacement (INR 1.8-2.5). We analyzed the patient's regularly recorded prothrombin times (PTs) and the occurrence of anticoagulation-related complications, such as bleeding, thrombosis, and embolism.

RESULTS

A follow-up for 239 of 300 patients was performed for 3-60 months. Within this group, one patient died from cerebral hemorrhage, there was 1 case of subcutaneous bleeding, 1 case of epistaxis, 12 cases of gingival bleeding, in 15 menstrual quantity increased, and in 1 case we found cerebral infarction.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, low-intensity anticoagulation after mitral Carbomedics valve replacement is therapeutically effective and safe. There is room to improve the anticoagulation standard currently used, perhaps at a slightly lower level than this standard suggests. From our research we can formulate individualized treatment plans and effectively reduce the occurrence of complications.