Living with Aortic Stenosis

Whether biological (animal tissue) or mechanical (metal), heart prostheses are very durable when certain precautions are taken. 

First of all, whenever you have contact with any healthcare professional, it is important to inform them that you have a heart prosthesis. If you have been prescribed anticoagulation with Sintrom® (or any other anticoagulant medication), levels of the drug in the blood should be monitored, as prescribed by your doctor. 

It is important to inform professionals that you are taking this drug if they want to prescribe a new medicine or perform an intervention, no matter how minor it may be. 

Finally, it is very important to protect the prosthesis from infection. This situation is very rare, but when it does occur, it is very serious. In most cases, surgery is necessary to replace the infected prosthesis. The bacteria that most commonly cause this kind of infection is found in the mouth.  For this reason, it is essential to maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing your teeth after every meal and going to your dentist for an annual check-up. If any dental treatment is necessary (apart from cleaning), it is very important that you inform your dentist that you have a heart prosthesis, so they can prescribe a preventive antibiotic treatment.