Abstract
We compared the efficacy, safety, and impact on postoperative hospital length of stay and inpatient hospital costs of low-molecular-weight heparin with that of unfractionated heparin as a "bridge" to achieving therapeutic levels of anticoagulation with warfarin in patients with newly implanted prosthetic heart valves. The patients who received low-molecular-weight heparin had a shorter length of stay and decreased postoperative costs compared with the control subjects receiving unfractionated heparin.
MeSH terms
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Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
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Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
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Case-Control Studies
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Female
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Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation*
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Heparin / administration & dosage
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Heparin / therapeutic use*
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Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use*
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Hospital Costs / statistics & numerical data
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Humans
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Infusions, Intravenous
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Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Safety
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Warfarin / therapeutic use
Substances
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Anticoagulants
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Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
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Warfarin
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Heparin