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[Reliable Quick value management by self determination]
1Kardiologische Abt. Fachklinik Rhein-Ruhr, Essen-Kettwig.
Because of the considerably increased risk of thrombembolic complications after implantation of mechanical heart valves, lifelong anticoagulation is required. In the face of frequently unsteady prothrombin-time (PT)-values, a stable anticoagulation is one of the most difficult tasks in attending patients with heart-valve-prosthesis. If PT is out of the therapeutic range, the risk of bleeding or of thrombembolism increases disproportionately. Two differently trained groups of phenprocoumon-treated patients monitored their PT themselves for 6 months by means of a coagulometer, and they also determined their weekly dose of phenprocoumon. PTs were therapeutic 80.5% resp. 93.8% of the time. Intensive training and care maximized safety of anticoagulation.
Because of the considerably increased risk of thrombembolic complications after implantation of mechanical heart valves, lifelong anticoagulation is required. In the face of frequently unsteady prothrombin-time (PT)-values, a stable anticoagulation is one of the most difficult tasks in attending patients with heart-valve-prosthesis. If PT is out of the therapeutic range, the risk of bleeding or of thrombembolism increases disproportionately. Two differently trained groups of phenprocoumon-treated patients monitored their PT themselves for 6 months by means of a coagulometer, and they also determined their weekly dose of phenprocoumon. PTs were therapeutic 80.5% resp. 93.8% of the time. Intensive training and care maximized safety of anticoagulation.