Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Replacement: Oral Anticoagulation or Antiplatelet Therapy? A Still Active Controversy

There are a number of controversies in cardiac surgery. among them, the issue of compulsory anticoagulant therapy after valve replacement with a tissue valve, also known as bioprosthesis, continues to be a matter of discussion. the key point is to admit that antithrombotic therapy in general may eventually be founded on shaky grounds. when referring to valve replacement with mechanical valves, there are neither doubts nor discussions that life-long oral anticoagulation therapy is the gold standard in terms of therapeutics due to the intrinsic valve structure with metallic components. the addition of immediate postoperative intravenous or subcutaneous heparin may accompany the introduction of anticoagulation usually with oral warfarin.