Reoccurring Blood Clots Dear Doctor, Seven years ago, my father replaced his aortic and mitral heart valve with mechanical valves. Five weeks ago, doctors found a blood clot stuck on his mechanical mitral valve and decided that surgery would be the solution to removing this clot. Therefore, they replaced his mechanical heart valve with another mechanical valve. Today, doctors have just discovered that he has now formed two blood clots on his newly-installed heart valve. Yes, unfortunately, some people who have mechanical heart valves have recurrent problems wirth blood clots even if they are on anti-coagulants such as coumadin.
Small clots can dislodge and go to the brain or other parts of the body from the mitral valve.
Your father's octors are taking his clotting problem seriously, as they should. Your father's problem is a difficult one and he may be in for a tough time - more medications, more surgery. The physicians will have to balance all the risks he faces with the possible benefits of the medications. We hope he does all right.