title: Patients with prosthetic cardiac valves followed in southern Thailand.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yipintsoi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jirathamopas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suntiparpluacha
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jintapakorn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akaravinake
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunjara-Na-Ayudhya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D015996:Survival Rate