Challenges in managing anticoagulant therapy in patients with heart valve prostheses

Abstract

There is a wide array of recommendations for the management of anticoagulant therapy in patients with mechanical heart valves. The optimal intensity of vitamin K antagonists, management of patients during noncardiac surgery and use of anticoagulants during pregnancy are all ongoing matters of debate. In this review, we discus the various studies on these topics and the different guidelines. Based on these, literature recommendations for daily clinical practice are formulated.

Keywords::

• anticoagulant therapy
• mechanical heart valves
• vitamin K antagonists