Anticoagulation dilemma in a high-risk patient with On-X valves

Aortic valve replacement using On-X valve in a child postorthotopic heart transplantation

A 20-month-old girl presented with severe dilated cardiomyopathy and decompensated congestive cardiac failure. Despite escalating inotropic and mechanical ventilation support, she required placement on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and transfer to the transplant centre in Newcastle, England. She was placed on biventricular assist device and then Berlin Heart but failed to show any recovery of ventricular function. She underwent orthotopic heart transplantation at 2 years of age. She developed bacterial endocarditis with Enterococcus faecalis resulting in severe aortic valve regurgitation requiring aortic valve replacement with a 19 mm On-X valve (Airtivion) 11 days after her transplant. Given the size of the donor heart, it was possible to implant a 19-mm valve in this 12 kg child with minimal risk of patient prosthesis mismatch. She was anticoagulated with warfarin (On-X valve INR 2-3 for first 3 months; INR 1.5-2.0 thereafter). Although she suffered several other post-operative complications, including malabsorption, nasojejunal feeding, liver dysfunction, vertebral fractures, renal impairment and renal calcification, and need for repeat opening of her tracheostomy site following her initial decannulation, her aortic valve function has remained stable.

Follow-up and management of valvular heart disease patients with prosthetic valve: a clinical practice guideline for Indian scenario

PURPOSE

Valvular heart disease (VHD) patients after prosthetic valve implantation are at risk of thromboembolic events. Follow-up care of patients with prosthetic valve has a paramount role in reducing the morbidity and mortality. Currently, in India, there is quintessential need to stream line the follow-up care of prosthetic valve patients. This mandates the development of a consensus guideline for the antithrombotic therapy in VHD patients post prosthetic valve implantation.

METHODS

A national level panel was constituted comprising 13 leading cardio care experts in India who thoroughly reviewed the up to date literature, formulated the recommendations, and developed the consensus document. Later on, extensive discussions were held on this draft and the recommendations in 8 regional meetings involving 79 additional experts from the cardio care in India, to arrive at a consensus. The final consensus document is developed relying on the available evidence and/or majority consensus from all the meetings.

RESULTS

The panel recommended vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy with individualized target international normalized ratio (INR) in VHD patients after prosthetic valve implantation. The panel opined that management of prosthetic valve complications should be personalized on the basis of type of complications. In addition, the panel recommends to distinguish individuals with various co-morbidities and attend them appropriately.

CONCLUSIONS

Anticoagulant therapy with VKA seems to be an effective option post prosthetic valve implantation in VHD patients. However, the role for non-VKA oral therapy in prosthetic valve patients and the safety and efficacy of novel oral anticoagulants in patients with bioprosthetic valve need to be studied extensively.

Antithrombotic Management of Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves

Valvular heart disease is a major public health issue. The prevalence of valvular heart disease is expected to increase due to an aging population. Valve dysfunction manifests as valve stenosis, regurgitation, or both due to various etiologies. Valve repair and replacement are the main treatment options for severe valve dysfunction. Valve replacement is achieved by using either a mechanical or a bioprosthetic valve. Mechanical valves are more durable but require lifelong anticoagulation with associated complications. Bioprosthetic valves usually require anticoagulation only transiently after implantation but are less durable and degenerate more rapidly. In this article, we discuss antithrombotic regimens in persons after valve operations. We discuss general issues and antithrombotic recommendations for patients undergoing surgical bioprosthetic valve replacement, mechanical valve replacement (including different regimens for different positions and types of mechanical valves), mitral valve repair, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. In addition, we discuss the antithrombotic management of patients in special circumstances, including patients with mechanical valves who have recurrent bleeding or thrombotic events, patients with mechanical valves undergoing surgery, and pregnant women with mechanical valves.