Antithrombotic management after aortic valve replacement with biological prosthesis: a meta-analysis ...

Background We aimed to summarise the existing knowledge regarding antithrombotic medications following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) using a biological valve prosthesis. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of studies that reported the results of using antithrombotic medication to prevent thromboembolic events after SAVR using a biological aortic valve prosthesis and recorded the outcomes 12 months after surgery. Since no randomised controlled trials were identified, observational studies were included. The analyses were conducted separately for periods of 0–12 months and 3–12 months after surgery. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled outcome event rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The search yielded eight eligible observational studies covering 6727 patients overall. The lowest 0- to 12-month mortality was observed in patients with anticoagulation (2.0%, 95% CI 0.4–9.7%) and anticoagulation combined with antiplatelet therapy (2.2%, 95% CI 0.9–5.5%), and the ...