Table 3.18-5. Antithrombotic treatment in patients with mechanical prosthetic valves

Risk of thrombosis associated with the prosthesis

Examples of mechanical valves

Target INR depending on the number of risk factorsa

No risk factors

≥1 risk factor

Low

– Carbomedics (aortic)

– Medtronic Hall

– ATS

– Medtronic Open Pivot

– St. Jude Medical

– Sorin Bicarbon

2.5

3.0

Medium

Other bileaflet valves

3.0

3.5

High

– Lillehei-Kaster

– Omniscience

– Starr-Edwards

– Björk-Shiley

– Other tilting disc valves

3.5

4.0

a Risk factors: replacement of the mitral or tricuspid valve; prior thromboembolic event, atrial fibrillation, mitral stenosis of any severity, left ventricular ejection fraction <35%.

Adapted from Eur Heart J. 2022 Feb 12;43(7):561-632.

INR, international normalized ratio.