Cardiac tamponade associated with anticoagulant treatment in patients undegoing cardiac valve replacement

Abstract

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.