Thromboembolism

[chinita]

what is it ? and why me as a valver am more at risk for

 

[hensylee]

what is it ? and why me as a valver am more at risk for

not sure. someone else with more knowledge will need to answer this. we have several very learned members here in VR - on many subjects - and they will be along to answer.

Anyone? hellooooo out there...........

 

[deano89]

googled this description of it http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25032 plenty of other articles as well may be worth a try, and i am sure others will be aloong with personnal accounts

 

[Ross]

Thromboembolism=Blood Clot

Mechanical valves are prone to clot developement around the hinge joints of the flaps since they do not operate the same as a human valve does. There is a stagnant flow of blood running through them, which makes clotting a real possiblility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_heart_valve

 

[Petros]

Thromboembolism=Blood Clot

Mechanical valves are prone to clot developement around the hinge joints of the flaps since they do not operate the same as a human valve does. There is a stagnant flow of blood running through them, which makes clotting a real possiblility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_heart_valve

O.K Ross, but what is the purpose of the "washing jets" on mechanical valves? Will these also help against thromboembolism?

 

[bvdr]

They help but it doesn't eliminate the problem. It is still a foreign object exposed to blood and blood naturally wants to clot it off. The problem is greater with the mitral position than the aortic since the blood flows through the mitral with less force than in the aortic valve.

 

[chinita]

oh ok! so am I more at risk when I have a low INR or just in general..........
Is it considered very bad ?
I have a mechanical mitral valve and a leaky aortic valve

 

[Johnny Stephens]

It's true it's a clot, but more specifically a thromboembolism is a clot that has broken off and traveled elsewhere in your body. This can cause a stroke if it lodges in your brain, for example.

Yes, theoretically you're more at risk if your INR is below the therapeutic range identified for you and your valve.

 

[bvdr]

You are more at risk in general. Your risk is reduced when your INR is within your therapeutic range (for a mechanical mitral that is generally 2.5 to 3.5). When your INR is under therapeutic your risk is greater than it would be if in range. The more under range you are the more at risk you put yourself. The risk is never absent but being in range is our best defense against a thrombo-embolism from a mechanical valve at this time.

 

[chinita]

Thank you guys for ur responses!!!!!!!
so basicly thrombo and stroke are differnet things
but with the same outcome ?

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Thromboembolisms can cause strokes. Cause and effect.