Patients with prosthetic cardiac valves followed in southern Thailand

Prospective follow-up of 174 post-prosthetic cardiac valves have been done at Prince of Songkla University and Hat Yai Regional hospitals since 1985. The total follow-up time was 549 patient-years (pt-yr). Thirty per cent had been followed for 1 year or less. Eighty-two per cent of the patients had their mitral valves replaced either singly or as part of a multiple replacement. Thirty per cent of the time, the prothrombin time was below therapeutic range. Major events did not appear to be different from other reports: 2.7 embolic events per 100 pt-yr, 3.2 major bleeds and 3.2 deaths which may eventually be as high as 4.4 if a portion of the lost patients was assumed to have died. Events related to prosthetic valves and anticoagulation seemed to occur predominantly 1-2 years after surgery.