This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Shahzad G. Raja Joel Dunning Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by El-Husseiny, M. Articles by Dunning, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by El-Husseiny, M. Articles by Dunning, J. Related Collections Cardiac - pharmacology Valve disease

Should warfarin be routinely prescribed for the first three months after a bioprosthetic valve replacement?

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Building, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, G31 2ER, Glasgow, UK
^b Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK

*Corresponding author. Fax: +44-141-2114845.

E-mail address: drrajashahzad{at}hotmail.com (S.G. Raja).

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether warfarin should be routinely prescribed for the first three months after a bioprosthetic valve replacement either for the aortic or mitral position. Altogether 620 papers were identified using the below-mentioned search. In addition, all major international guidelines were included. Fifteen papers presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group, relevant outcomes and weaknesses were tabulated. We conclude that all guidelines, the available evidence and current practice support the use of warfarin at an INR of 2–3 for 3 months for bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (MVR). However, it must be acknowledged that this recommendation is based on only a small number of non-randomized cohort studies and on expert consensus. For patients without high risk factors undergoing a bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) all recommend warfarin for 3 months after surgery. However, the American Heart Association (AHA/ACC) guidelines and the British Society for Haematology (BSH) regard aspirin alone as adequate therapy. In addition, two large surveys show that the majority of surgeons worldwide now use only antiplatelet therapy. The evidence from clinical studies to support the use of warfarin post-bioprosthetic AVR is very weak and out-dated, and therefore, we feel that it is certainly safe to use antiplatelet therapy alone post-bioprosthetic AVR.

Key Words: Warfarin; Bioprosthesis; Aortic valve; Mitral valve; Anticoagulants

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Dunning, M. Versteegh, A. Fabbri, A. Pavie, P. Kolh, U. Lockowandt, S. A.M. Nashef, and on behalf of the EACTS Audit and Guidelines Commit Guideline on antiplatelet and anticoagulation management in cardiac surgery Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., July 1, 2008; 34(1): 73 - 92. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Dunning Laws, Guidelines and professional choice Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., April 1, 2007; 31(4): 571 - 572. [Full Text] [PDF]