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colleen colleen
wrote...
Valued Member
Posts: 17076
11 years ago
A patient is being discharged from the healthcare facility following surgical replacement of a mitral valve with a mechanical valve. The patient asks the nurse how much longer he will need to take warfarin (Coumadin). What is the nurse’s best response?
1. “You will be on it for the rest of your life because you have a mechanical valve.”
2. “That will depend upon your surgeon. Ask him when you go to your office visit.”
3. “You will be on it for the rest of your life because you have a biologic tissue valve.”
4. “You will be told when to stop, which means your mechanical prosthetic valve is probably healed and there is minimal risk of clots.”
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Sunshine ☀ ☼

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Replies
wrote...
Valued Member
11 years ago
1. “You will be on it for the rest of your life because you have a mechanical valve.”

This is the only thing appropriate to say. Now that the patient has an artificial valve in place, they are at risk for thrombus formation so anticoagulants (blood thinners) must be used for life.
wrote...
Valued Member
11 years ago
Long-term anticoagulation is necessary with a mechanical prosthetic valve, due to the risk of development of clots on the valve. Biologic tissue valves have a low risk of thrombus formation and long-term anticoagulation is rarely necessary. Option 2 gives false reassurance to the patient and does not answer the patient’s question.
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