Our inability to predict thromboembolic events after prosthetic valve surgery.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Thromboembolic and bleeding complications detract from outcome for patients with prosthetic heart valves. The study aim was to investigate whether measurement of coagulation activation markers and transcranial Doppler ultrasound microembolic signals (MES) could identify patients at subsequent higher risk of thromboembolism or bleeding events.

Methods: A total of 526 patients (mean age 66 years; 266 males, 260 females) who underwent elective valve replacement surgery was enrolled between April 1999 and October 2002.