Mechanical mitral valve enquiries

[Lynnsyd2]

Sorry for the long post but please share for me. I'm looking to speak to anyone that has had a Mitral metal heart valve replacement and required another operation specifically spinal surgery. Part of my new surgery requires me to have heperin injections instead of warfarin. I know some people have their warfarin replaced or stopped all together for any kind of surgery, however I'm looking to speak to anyone that's had an operation, particularly spinal operation but anyone that has had any operation that required this management after the metal heart valve replacement. My spinal surgeon has not had any previous patient like me, so there is no reference to speak of. I'm on a heart support group and no one has had such surgery after their heart valve replacement so I'm relying on the power of social media in the hope someone will contact me for some support. My reason for asking on social media is the doctors don't seem to know much themselves as usually patients going for a spinal operation would be taken off warfarin 5-10 days before but they are saying I can't be taken off it & still need to be anticoagulated regardless which obviously puts me at high risk of being paralysed or with trying to thicken my blood to some degree then there is the risk of me dying. This seems to be a really high risk surgery & I don't have long to make a decision up on whether to go for it or not it's already been put off once already. Can someone or anyone who knows someone who has been in my situation or similar please help me on as im making a massive decision. I just want to know if there is someone out there that's had this done or am I signing myself up for a death sentence as no one really seems to be giving me much answers apart from live the way your living or take this horrendous risk.

Please share far & wide in the hope that anyone at all, that's had the heprin injections to please mail me or comment. The operation has already been cancelled due to consultants not heing able to agree on the safest route which is making me terrified. Im just out from another consultation and again they have changed their minds on managing this. I'm a nervous wreck so looking for any helpful input.

I've asked constantly at warfarin clinic and various consultants and no one seems to have had the same problems as me so hopefully by using social media, someone is out there that can at least help me feel a bit more at ease. I'm referring specifically for those with mitral metal valve as I know specifically there is more risk of clots.

Thanks in advance for any sharing. I'm genuinely just looking to speak with someone with personal knowledge that can help me. Xxx

[Hidden]

Hi, I may be being symplistic, as I've not had spinal surgery. However, I have had Mech Mitral and Aortic valves replaced with the same. As such I was taken off Warfarin beforehand. I'd have thought there is a standard protocol for those sort of circumstances which aren't unusual. I don't recall what I was put on immediately following the redo, but, I'd guess at Tinzaparin.

Whilst not for surgical reasons, I've been taken off Warfarin for weeks at a time the last 18months, and put on Tinz as my anticoagulant. Tinz is a standard option when the INR is below 2.0.

As I say, maybe I'm being simplistic, but, possibly worth asking the question.

[Lynnsyd2 in reply to Hidden]

I am not sure if timz is maybe the same as heparin it's injections ones you get where they monitor your blood every 6 hours others you get where they don't monitor your blood at all and administer them at home, my heart surgeon has suggest I have the ones which are monitored as he's saying I can't be taken off my warfarin for what ever reason I don't know as I haven't had the chance to speak to him it's my orthopaedic surgeon that's spoken to him but the heart surgeon has told him the safest way to do it & the orthopaedic surgeon is trying to do it the other way where I am not monitored but there is a high risk of dying, I have no idea why they would go against the heart surgeon other than the staffing issues that they told me.

[Art-99]

Hi Lynnsyd2, you've certainly been confronted with a difficult decision, I would have thought your cardiologist could have given you a bit more information e.g. how high are the risks for and against being taken off anticoagulants whilst undergoing non heart related surgery. Is the spinal surgery very invasive and likely to take a longer of shorter time than ohs ? I have a tissue mitral valve but also have severe arrhythmia which is the reason I have to take warfarin. I had a cataract op 18 months ago and although not sugery as such as no blood involved I had to self inject for a few days prior to the procedure, rather than take warfarin. Sorry I cant be more helpful and hope you can get some useful guidance.

[Anon2023]

hi. I’ve had surgery under a general anaesthetic last year (not spinal though but quite invasive) while I was on warfarin (I’ve got a mechanical mitral valve). I was considered high risk for surgery but the Anaesthetist was happy to go ahead with precautions such as stopping warfarin and antibiotic cover. They stopped the warfarin a few days before and put me on tinz injections as an alternative. I was on tinz for a few days afterwards too. I thought tinz was a type of heparin but I could be wrong. I wish you all the best with your surgery. X