Factor V Deficiency and Mechanical Valve Replacement: Challenges in Perioperative Hemostasis and Anticoagulation
Department
Internal Medicine
Additional Department
Oncology and Hematology
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Rhode Island Medical Journal (2013)
Abstract
Factor V deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder marked by impaired thrombin generation and variable bleeding risk. Perioperative management becomes particularly challenging in high-risk surgeries, such as aortic valve replacement, due to the absence of targeted replacement therapies and the limited efficacy of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in restoring factor V levels. We report the case of a 30-year-old woman with congenital factor V deficiency (baseline activity 18%) who underwent successful mechanical aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair for infective endocarditis. She received preoperative FFP aiming for a factor V level > 20%. Her perioperative management included careful monitoring with a total of 23 units of FFP administered. Despite persistently low postoperative f levels (< 20%), she experienced minimal bleeding complications, limited to transient anemia and one episode of gross hematuria requiring platelet transfusion. Outpatient follow-up revealed heterozygosity for both factor V Leiden and a prekallikrein variant, potentially explaining her relatively mild bleeding phenotype. This case highlights the disconnect that may exist between laboratory values and clinical bleeding risk, emphasizing the need for individualized perioperative planning and cautious anticoagulation management.
First Page
23
Last Page
26
Volume
109
Issue
10
Publication Date
10-1-2026
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Female; Adult; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Factor V Deficiency; Anticoagulants; Plasma; Aortic Valve; Perioperative Care; Factor V; Heart Valve Prosthesis
PubMed ID
42789805
Recommended Citation
Domench, D. I., Reid, R. M., Azim, D., Ehsanullah, S., Sanjeevi, A., & Rao, A. (2026). Factor V Deficiency and Mechanical Valve Replacement: Challenges in Perioperative Hemostasis and Anticoagulation. Rhode Island Medical Journal (2013), 109 (10), 23-26. Retrieved from https://scholar.rochesterregional.org/rrhpubs/3525