Left heart cath with mechanical mitral valve

[kayl]

This is my first post. Since it is so late at night I will be brief. I am scheduled to have a left heart catheterization next Wednesday. I have a St. Jude mechanical mitral valve, bileaflet. I haven't had a left heart catheterization since 1987 before the valve was installed. Has anyone here with a mechanical mitral valve had a left heart catheterization after they received their valve replacement? If so, did you have any problems with the catheterization? I hope this question makes sense. Thanks.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Welcome aboard Kayl.

I *assume* you are on Coumadin, right?

That being the case, you will need to STOP your Coumadin at least 3 days in advance of the procedure.

Then, there are 3 options.

Go into the hospital and be placed on a Heparin drip. Heparin is metabolized much more quickly than Coumadin so you could be anti-coagulated on Heparin until approximately 8 hours before your procedure is scheduled, and placed on it again shortly after your cath is over and your groin is 'sealed'. It might be a good idea to have them 'stitch' the insertion point. It will take another few days for your Coumadin levels / INR to come back into range.

OR, you could take Lovenox injections at home until approximately 8 hours before your procedure. Similar story to the Heparin drip procedure except you don't need to be hooked to an IV. The archives contain previous discussions of the tradeoffs between Heparin drip and Lovenox Injections. Use the SEARCH feature to locate them.

OR, the third option (which some doctors actually recommend / use) is to DO NOTHING after you stop taking your Coumadin. Personally, I would find another doctor if that is the recommendation!

'AL'