Medications during follow-up periods
As for medications for patients after SAVR, warfarin was used for anticoagulation in patients with mechanical valves at doses adjusted to achieve target international normalized ratio (INR) of 1.6–2.6 in older people (≥70 years of age) and 2.0–3.0 in younger people (<70 years of age). Antiplatelet drugs were used in patients with biological valves. The use of other medications, including beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), and other anti-arrhythmia drugs was at the discretion of the primary outpatient doctors. Amiodarone was used for sporadic non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) detected by Holter electrocardiogram (ECG).