1986 Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 170-172
Two cases of cardiac tamponade associated with anticoagulant treatment in the early period after cardiac valve replacement are reported. The first case, a 48-year-old female with mitral valve re-stenosis underwent mitral valve replacement and received anticoagulant treatment with warfarin after surgery. Cardiac tamponade occurred on day 5 postoperatively when the thombotest value was 9%.
The second case, a 49-year-old male with hypertension underwent aortic valve replacement and thoreafter received warfarin. Cardiac tamponade occurred on day 10 postoperatively when the thrombotest value was 13%. Both were treated successfully by surgical drainage.
Postoperative anticoagulant treatment with warfarin appeared to the development of cardiac tamponade in both cases.