Why the study?
Does continuing anticoagulant treatment increase bleeding complications in patients with artificial heart valves undergoing invasive cardiac studies?
Does continuing anticoagulant treatment increase bleeding complications in patients with artificial heart valves undergoing invasive cardiac studies?
Continuing anticoagulant treatment during invasive cardiac studies in patients with artificial heart valves does not substantially increase the frequency of bleeding complications compared to controls.
Supports continuing anticoagulation in this setting without major frequency increase; leaves open need for randomized confirmation.
The number and nature of bleeding complications subsequent to cardiac catheterization and angiography were determined in 50 anticoagulated and 50 control patients. There were six bleeding complications in the anticoagulated group and five in the control group. Although the complications were somewhat more severe in anticoagulated patients, the difference was not enough to justify a change in our general policy of continuing anticoagulant treatment in patients with artificial heart valves who are admitted for postoperative invasive cardiac investigations.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Rådegran et al. (1979) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: