Anticoagulants for Heart Valve Disease

Anticoagulants are used after heart valve replacement surgery. After surgery, you have a higher risk for dangerous blood clots.

• If you have a mechanical valve (made with metal or plastic), you will take anticoagulants for the rest of your life.
• If you have a biological valve (made with tissue), you will take anticoagulants for a few months after surgery.

After heart valve replacement surgery, both warfarin and one of several types of anticoagulant medicines—a low-molecular-weight heparin, an unfractionated heparin, or another antithrombotic medicine—are started. Coumadin is given in pill form while the other medicines are given as a shot. The injected medicines act immediately, while Coumadin takes several days to become effective. When warfarin begins to work, the other medicines are stopped.

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