Only baby aspirin post mitral valve repair surgery

[dong]

My husband just had a mitral valve repair and Maze surgery. He was discharged from the hospital with only baby aspirin. He took Plavix and regular aspirin at the hospital for 4 days, but he got a lot of bruises. He never had coumadin at the hospital. Is it normal to only take baby aspirin right after the surgery?

 

[Wi-HarleyGuy]

Hi Dong,

I had Mitral valve replacement (Porcine tissue valve) surgery done last week on March 4th. Like your husband, all that was prescribed for me when I was discharged was baby aspirin (1 per day) and Plavix (also never was given coumadin).
However in my case I will stop taking the Plavix after 6 weeks.

Best wishes to you and your husband,

Wi-HarleyGuy

 

[Adrienne]

After my surgery I was put into contact with a woman in Texas (by a friend) because she was also going to have a mitral valve repair. Her repair was done by Dr. Ryan (often mentioned on this site). It was a minimally invasive repair, and she only took baby Aspirin after the operation.

I've read that usually MV repair patients are given Coumadin for about 3 months (I was on it about a year) but I guess every doctor has his or her own opinion about it.

 

[marie]

I had minimally invasive Aortic Valve replacement. Porcine and was never put on coumadin and I get ulcers so no aspirin either. Earline

 

[Susan BAV]

Recently I read here a similar comment and I think the explanation was that temporary Coumadin use is more common with tissue replacements but not usually common with valve repairs--which use, or lack of, I hadn't previously noticed. I'll see if I can find that thread and add it here...

Sorry, I can't find what I thought I read and am not 100% I related it accurately...