Age 78 yrs in 2010 Aortic valve replacement (tissue valve)with one vessel bypass done. Pt. on Clopidrgrel after that. Changed to combination of Atorvastatin+Glimpiride after 3yrs ...in 2013. Within a few weeks she threw a thrombus and had mesenteric block leading to resection anastamoses for gangrenous small bowel. After that patient has been on warfarin.
I feel it is necessary to take Warfarin lifelong. However her physician wants to switch back to Stator ASP higher dose of 150mg and stop Warfarin completely. She has already been put on 75mg of combination of Atorvastatin+Glimpiride in addition to Warfarin. She is regularly monitored with INR . My question: How many years post cardiac surgery and a following thromboembolic episode of gangrenous small bowel resection anastamoses should Warfarin be continued? Lifelong ?
