Warfarin and tissue valve?

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john79t

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Apr 8, 2009
Messages
449
Location
Missouri
Is it standard proceedure to have to take warfarin after recieving a tissue valve for a period of time? If so why? Does your rish of a clot increase when you stop taking it as it does with Plavix?
 
My doc has me on Warfarin after my tissue valve replacement for 3 months. He says the thinner blood helps the heart heal as it does not have to work as hard.
 
There is nothing set in stone. My personal opinion of Plavix is that it's more dangerous then Coumadin. 3 months of Coumadin following tissue replacement is a recommendation by the powers that be. Some adhere to it, some don't. Plavix and Coumadin work differently, but yes, the chance of clotting increases without either or.
 
Bugchucker and Ross Thanks

Ross from the research I have done I think you are right seems to be great risk comming off plavix. My cousin had his heart cath today and they put in 1 stent. another vein was 99% blocked and they could not do a stent in that one and they put him on plavix. The cardio told him it was to treat the 99% blocked one. Does not sound right to me.
 
Bugchucker and Ross Thanks

Ross from the research I have done I think you are right seems to be great risk comming off plavix. My cousin had his heart cath today and they put in 1 stent. another vein was 99% blocked and they could not do a stent in that one and they put him on plavix. The cardio told him it was to treat the 99% blocked one. Does not sound right to me.

If it's that blocked, then the only thing to do is a bypass. Plavix is not going to help enough to keep it free from 100% flow disruption. New opinion time.
 
Did your cousin possibly misunderstand? It is my understanding it is almost routine that everyone who gets a stent is put on plavix unless a good reason not.....such as already on coumadin.

My surgeon ordered three months coumadin following my mitral replacement with bovine tissue. In the end, he told me I could stop at two and a half months. If I recall correctly, I believe he wanted me on coumadin until my own tissue could grow over the seat of my new valve to reduce risk of clotting until all edges smoothed out from my own tissue during healing.


Not all surgeons order coumadin for their tissue patients but a great many do.
 
Bugchucker and Ross Thanks

Ross from the research I have done I think you are right seems to be great risk comming off plavix. My cousin had his heart cath today and they put in 1 stent. another vein was 99% blocked and they could not do a stent in that one and they put him on plavix. The cardio told him it was to treat the 99% blocked one. Does not sound right to me.

Are they sure it is not for the stent? Alot of times people are put on coum or plavix (my son was put on aspirin) for the first few month after getting stents placed, until the cells can grow thru/coat the stent
 
I am doubtful about my cousins situation. He had a heart attack about a week ago. He is very over weight , smokes and has diabeteas and is not taking he meds. I wonder if they are just buying time. I would think he needs a by pass on that artery. This can be done minimal invasive now and he is not in that bad of a condition. I plan to talk with him more.
 
John -

Your Cousin may have a hard time finding a Surgeon who will perform Bypass Surgery on him given that he is so non-compliant about his Medications and Lifestyle.

If he is Not Willing to take the medications necessary to manage his diabetes and continues to smoke and eat improperly, I would not be surprised if surgeons decline to do Bypass Surgery on him.

For his sake, I hope he decides he wants to live enough to turn his life around and do what is necessary to make that happen.

'AC'
 
John -

Your Cousin may have a hard time finding a Surgeon who will perform Bypass Surgery on him given that he is so non-compliant about his Medications and Lifestyle.

If he is Not Willing to take the medications necessary to manage his diabetes and continues to smoke and eat improperly, I would not be surprised if surgeons decline to do Bypass Surgery on him.

For his sake, I hope he decides he wants to live enough to turn his life around and do what is necessary to make that happen.

'AC'

This is so increasingly true. What gets me is that Doctors are sworn to saving lives. Even those that aren't compliant, so who are they to dictate who they do or don't treat.
 
Al I plan to talk with him. He is turned much like his father. His dad had a heart attack while in the hospital in his late 40s and had quad. by-pass. He continued to somke and was over weight and did not manage his diabeates. He had a second by pass 13 years later quit smoking but never changed his diet. He died of lung cancer in his early 80s. My cousin figures if he lives into his 80s like dad thats fine. He doesn't understand how lucky his dad was to make it as long as he did.
 
Is it standard proceedure to have to take warfarin after recieving a tissue valve for a period of time? If so why? Does your rish of a clot increase when you stop taking it as it does with Plavix?

Dr. Kouchoukos had me continue with my daily dose of 325mg of enteric coated aspirin rather than use coumadin after he implanted my bovine valve.
 
I take 81mg enteric aspirin. Have tissue valve (bovine) never on coumidin or plavix. Husband on 325mg enteric, on Plavix for 2 weeks after triple by-pass had horrible side effect from Plavix so back on aspirin. We share the same cardiologist so I think it depends on the doctor.
 
Thanks to all. Mary since Dr Moon was traind by Dr.Nick perhaps he follows the same protacall. I noticed that Dr. Nick just recieved another award from the Marfin and tissue disorder folks. Healer with a heart. If he were still at BJH I would use him. He is a brilliant man and great surgeon.
 
I forgot to add in my post, Justin didn't have anything but aspirin after his conduit/bovine valve replacement (or section of conduit that was replced) either. I even double checked with Justin's other ped card from a different center, to make sure he was fine with that protical
 
Have seen info that around 50 % of people who have Tissue Valves take Blood thinners.

Are you talking longterm? if so the ONLY place I saw that was the ON-X valve site (they use it as one of their "cons" against tissue, in their pro-con list) and when I read the study they referenced, it was a very small group of people. I think they number in there study was about the same amount to responded to the non scientific poll here (that only like 2-3 people with tissue valves that are members here take coum.)

IF you are talking about short term 3 months post op that's different
 

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