Dr. Rohan D’Souza and team receive $20,000 to study the use of anticoagulants for pregnant patients with mechanical heart valves 

Principal Investigators Drs. Rohan D’Souza (McMaster University), Nadine Shehata (University of Toronto) and Anam Shahil-Feroz (University of Toronto/McMaster University), with co-investigators Drs. Candice Silversides (University of Toronto), Isabelle Malhame (McGill University), Anish Keepanasseril (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, India) and Taryn Taylor (Western University), have been awarded $20,000 (USD) from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) to advance research on the use of anticoagulants for pregnant patients with mechanical heart valves (MHVs).  

Pregnant women with MHVs have an increased rate of maternal, neonatal, and fetal morbidity and mortality. A prior study conducted by the research team revealed that there is considerable variation between clinical practice recommendations on the use of anticoagulants for this patient population and actual clinical practice.  

The ISTH funding will support the research team as they conduct an international qualitative study with the aim of identifying the clinical and resource-related factors, among others, that influence decision-making regarding the use of anticoagulants for pregnant patients with MHVs.  

The study will also explore the values and preferences among healthcare professionals and heath care users (individuals with MHVs that have experienced pregnancy) that shape decision-making, and provide a foundation for reflective dialogue among clinicians, knowledge users, researchers, and patient partners to inform concrete changes within clinical practice guidelines – adding the much-needed patient voice to future clinical practice guidelines and enabling family-centered clinical decision-making in this complex clinical area.