Can you use a defibrillator on someone with a mechanical heart valve?

Can you use a defibrillator on someone with a mechanical heart valve?

Yes, this is safe. Most pacemakers and ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators) are implanted in the upper left side of the chest.

What heart conditions require a defibrillator?

You might need an ICD if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat that keeps your heart from supplying enough blood to the rest of your body (such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) or if you are at high risk of such a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), usually because of a weak heart muscle.

Which drug is contraindicated in a patient with a mechanical heart valve?

FDA is requiring a contraindication (a warning against use) of Pradaxa in patients with mechanical heart valves. Health care professionals should promptly transition any patient with a mechanical heart valve who is taking Pradaxa to another medication.

Is a pacemaker needed after aortic valve replacement?

Replacing the aortic valve can damage the conduction system and necessitate the implantation of a permanent pacemaker.

What drug is prescribed following mechanical heart valve replacement?

Coumadin is the brand name for the anticoagulant (blood thinner) drug, warfarin. Coumadin therapy is used to reduce the risk of blood clots, particularly among patients who receive an artificial heart valve.

Why are NOACs contraindicated in mechanical valves?

Prescribers are reminded not to substitute newer oral anti-coagulant drugs (NOACs) for warfarin in patients with mechanical heart valves under any circumstance because of the risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events, regardless of the length of time since the replacement.

Is a heart valve replacement major surgery?

An aortic valve replacement involves removing a faulty or damaged valve and replacing it with a new valve made from synthetic materials or animal tissue. It’s a major operation that isn’t suitable for everyone and can take a long time to recover from.

Is it common to need a pacemaker after heart surgery?

Background: Conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker implantation after heart surgery occur in about 1.5% of patients. Early pacemaker implantation may reduce morbidity and postoperative hospital stay.

Can a mechanical heart valve be used as a replacement?

Most patients who need open-heart surgery to remove a diseased heart valve face complicated conversations with their heart surgeons about whether to use a natural-tissue or mechanical valve as a replacement.

When to resume VKA after mechanical heart valve surgery?

In those patients requiring VKA interruption, the guidelines suggest resuming VKA about 12–24 hours after surgery. In patients with a mechanical heart valve, atrial fibrillation, or venous thromboembolism who are at high risk for thromboembolism, bridging is recommended.

Which is safer a mechanical or biological heart valve?

The benefits of a mechanical valve compared with a biological valve persist until the age of 70 for mitral-valve replacement, according to a new Stanford study. Joseph Woo and his colleagues found in a study that mechanical heart valves may be a safer option than valves made of animal tissue for some patients.

How many people have had heart valve replacement?

Researchers examined the records of 9,942 patients who underwent aortic-valve replacement and 15,503 patients who underwent mitral-valve replacement during the study period. “Our research likely contains the largest number of patients ever studied to examine this issue,” Woo said.