warfarin/coumadin artificial heart valve

[barryLA]

I was in wait and watch for a year.
My doctor suggested today that we should now begin some treatment -- Dr Cueva at Kaiser.
I have an artificial mitral valve & I take warfarin as an anticoagulant.
If they do surgery, I'll be off anticoagulation for a week or so.
This increases the likelihood of stroke.
Does anyone have experience with warfarin & surgery?
Many thanks!
--Barry

[Cheryl R]

Barry,  I can only speak for other types of surgery and not AN. As a retired nurse, almost every one was taken off it for surgeries and I never saw any problem with someone having a stroke due to that short time frame.      The chances of stroke are not real high with AN surgery unless you have a very large AN.            Make sure and see what your surgeon says about it.      I would think the odds are that you would be ok.                         Cheryl R

[leapyrtwins]

Barry -

we aren't doctors; some on the Forum (like Cheryl R) are nurses, but your best bet is to talk to a physician about a question like this.

Good luck,

Jan