A case of aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis with aortic root aneurysm

A 72-year-old male who underwent patch closure of atrial septal defect and aortic valve replacement (AVR) 10 years ago was diagnosed as aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis for recurrent fever, coexisting paravalvular leakage and aortic root aneurysm by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Operative findings showed mechanical prosthesis was dehiscenced in part and limited subannular aneurysm that was healed macroscopically. The hole of the aneurysm was closed by direct suture. Re-AVR, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty for complicating mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation and tricuspid valve regurgitation was performed. The patient is now doing well for one year after the reoperation.     

A case report of translocation method for active infective aortic valve endocarditis with aortic root abscesses]

We experienced a case of 51-year-old woman who underwent emergency aortic valve replacement by translocation method for active infective aortic valve endocarditis with aortic root abscesses. Postoperative course was complicated as the following. Three days later, the perforation of noncoronary sinus of Valsalva into the right atrium was noted and she developed progressive heart failure due to the massive left-to-right shunt. The second operation was performed immediately for the patch closure of the perforation through the right atriotomy. Two months later, unstable angina appeared because of the stenosis of the vein graft to the left coronary artery, leading to the emergency third operation in which LITA was placed to the left anterior descending artery. In spite of these complications she recovered gradually and she was discharged 6 months after the first operation. She is now doing well in NYHA class 2. Translocation method is quite useful for such a case of the aortic valve endocarditis with periannular abscesses in whom conventional valve replacement is supposed to be impossible, but the long durability of this type of the repair is unknown. Careful follow-up of the patient is mandatory.     

Replacement of the aortic root for acute prosthetic valve endocarditis: prosthetic composite versus aortic allograft root replacement

OBJECTIVE: Aortic root replacement for prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis with accompanying destruction of the aortic root is a well-established surgical intervention. However, there is still no consensus whether prosthetic material or allogeneic material should be used. Here we report on our experience with prosthetic composite and aortic allograft root replacement in such patients during a 10-year interval. METHODS: From 1991 through 2001, 29 patients with prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis combined with aortic root destruction underwent reoperation at our institution. Sixteen patients received aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic root allograft (group A) and 13 with a prosthetic composite graft (group B). The interval between the initial operation and reoperation was 29 months (range, 5-168 months) in group A and 55 months (range, 7-248 months) in group B. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 18.5% (n = 5 patients, 3 in group A and 2 in group B). Median follow-up was 21 months (range, 1-48 months) for group A and 34 months (range, 1-152 months) for group B (P >.2). Survival at 1 and 5 years was 81% +/- 10% and 81% +/- 10% in group A and 85% +/- 10% and 85% +/- 10% in group B, respectively. No patient underwent reoperation for recurrent prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that excellent long-term results can be achieved regardless of the material used for aortic root replacement in patients with prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis.     

Brucellosis relapse causing prosthetic valve endocarditis and aortic root infective pseudoaneurysm

We report a previously treated case of brucellosis and aortic root replacement, which became complicated by prosthetic valve endocarditis and a massive aortic root pseudoaneurysm. Preoperative blood and intraoperative pseudoaneurysm wall cultures were positive for Brucella, and the patient was managed successfully with a combination of surgical and medical treatment. Brucella endocarditis is further discussed.     

A case of combined operation of aortic valve slicing and root remodeling for ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic regurgitation]

A 56-year-old female admitted with severe back pain, and her chest computed tomography demonstrated non-dissecting sclerotic aneurysm of the ascending aorta. Aortography and echocardiography showed marked dilatation of the ascending aorta and the Valsalva sinuses resulting in disappearance of the sinotubular junction. Aortic regurgitation of grade three was, also, recognized. A combined operation of aortic valve slicing of the right and the left coronary cusps and aortic root remodeling (Yacoub's method) was successfully performed. A woven Dacron double-veloured graft (Hemashield) of 22 mm in diameter was used for reconstruction of the ascending aorta and its root. Postoperative aortography figured the new sinotubular junction and the new Valsalva-like sinus composed by the graft, and aortic regurgitation was controlled to grade one.     

Left ventricular apical pseudoaneurysm with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis

We report an 83-year-old man with a mycotic left ventricular apical pseudoaneurysm and aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Enterococcus spp. Mycotic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is very rare and is associated with a high risk of rupture. Here, we report the clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of a case of mycotic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm to raise awareness regarding this unusual and potentially fatal complication.     

Mitral valve aneurysm associated with aortic valve endocarditis and regurgitation

Mitral valve aneurysms are rare complications occurring most commonly in association with aortic valve infective endocarditis. [Decroly 1989, Chua 1990, Northridge 1991, Karalis 1992, Roguin 1996, Mollod 1997, Vilacosta 1997, Cai 1999, Vilacosta 1999, Teskey 1999, Chan 2000, Goh 2000, Marcos- Alberca 2000] While the mechanism of the development of this lesion is unclear, complications such as perforation can occur and lead to significant mitral regurgitation. [Decroly 1989, Karalis 1992, Teskey 1999, Vilacosta 1999]; The case of a 69-year-old male with Streptococcus Sanguis aortic valve endocarditis and associated anterior mitral leaflet aneurysm is presented. Following surgery, tissue pathology of the excised lesion revealed myxomatous degeneration and no active endocarditis or inflammatory cells. This may add support to the hypothesis that physical stress due to severe aortic insufficiency and structural weakening, without infection of the anterior mitral leaflet, can lead to the development of this lesion.     

Reoperative cryopreserved root and ascending aorta replacement for acute aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis (PVE) is an important complication of aortic valve replacement (AVR) and is a particularly difficult situation after an operation combining AVR with ascending aortic replacement. METHODS: From 1988 through 2000, 27 patients with aortic valve PVE after previous ascending aortic replacement (aortic root replacement in 13, aortic valve replacement with a supracoronary graft in 14) underwent reoperation for aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft and prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy. All patients were considered to have active PVE (25 with positive cultures); root abscess formation was present in 89% and aortoventricular discontinuity in 41%. RESULTS: One patient (3.7%) died in-hospital, and permanent pacemakers were required in 10 patients (37%). Mean postoperative follow-up interval was 3.9 +/- 3.0 years, and survival at 1, 2, 5, and 7.5 years was 92%, 88%, 70%, and 56%, respectively. One patient underwent reoperation for recurrent PVE 8 months after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Radical debridement of infected prosthetic material and tissue, and allograft aortic root and ascending aorta replacement, combined with intravenous antibiotic therapy, appears to achieve a low hospital mortality and a high degree of freedom from recurrent infection for patients with PVE after AVR and ascending aortic replacement.     

Prosthetic valve endocarditis with extensive aortic root abscess

Prosthetic valve endocarditis with an extensive aortic root abscess usually has high mortality and morbidity. A 71-year-old male with an extended aortic root abscess following aortic valve replacement survived after full aortic root reconstruction with glutaraldehyde bovine pericardium, mitral valve replacement and full root replacement using stentless bioprosthesis. The patient is well without recurrence of infection, 18 months postoperatively. This procedure might be an alternative treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis with an extended aortic root abscess.     

Aortic root replacement with cryopreserved allograft for prosthetic valve endocarditis

BACKGROUND Our strategy has been to treat aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) with radical debridement of infected tissue and aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. This study examines the effectiveness of this strategy on hospital mortality and morbidity, recurrent endocarditis, and survival. METHODS: From 1988 through 2000, 103 patients with aortic PVE underwent root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. Abscesses were present in 78%, and aortoventricular discontinuity was present in 40%. Thirty-two patients had at least one previous operation for endocarditis. In 23 patients with a history of native valve endocarditis, the allograft was implanted after one episode (17 patients), two episodes (5 patients), or three episodes of PVE (1 patient). In the 80 patients without a history of native valve endocarditis, the allograft was placed after one previous aortic valve replacement (57 patients), two (19), or three (4) previous aortic valve replacements. Among the 92 patients with positive cultures, 52 had staphylococcal organisms, 20 had streptococcal, 6 had fungal, 4 had gram-negative, and 6 had enterococcal organisms. Mean follow-up was 4.3 +/- 2.9 years. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 3.9%. Permanent pacemakers were required in 31 patients. Survival at 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years was 90%, 86%, 73%, and 56%, respectively, with a risk of 5.3% per year after 6 months. Four patients underwent reoperation for recurrent PVE of the allograft (95% freedom from recurrent PVE at > or = 2 years). Risk of recurrent PVE peaked at 9 months and then declined to a low level by 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy of radical debridement and aortic root replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft for aortic PVE is safe, effective, and recommended.     

A surgical case of prosthetic valve endocarditis with a difficult diagnosis

Early diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is important because it has a high mortality rate. We report a case of PVE which was difficult to diagnose. A 36-year-old man, who had undergone an aortic valve replacement (AVR) 7 years prior, was hospitalized with a high fever of unknown origin. We could not detect a stuck valve, vegetations or abscesses using echocardiography, and the peak aortic transvalvular pressure gradient had increased to 81 mmHg. We suspected PVE and initiated intravenous antibiotic therapy immediately. On day 5, echocardiography demonstrated an abnormal shadow directly under the prosthesis, and we definitively diagnosed PVE and performed an operation. Intraoperatively, the prosthesis was not vegetative, but the left ventricular outflow tract was filled with vegetation that was nearly obstructing it. After dissecting the infectious focus, we performed a re-AVR. Postoperative echocardiography showed that the peak left ventricular aortic pressure gradient decreased to 30 mmHg. Obstructive vegetation is difficult to diagnose by preoperative echocardiography.     

Coronary arterial compression caused by an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis

Myocardial ischemia caused by coronary arterial compression by an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is a particularly unusual complication. We describe a patient with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis complicated with an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a high fever and chest discomfort. She had undergone aortic valve replacement 3?years earlier. Computed tomography showed an aneurysm originating from the left and right aortic sinus that was compressing the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The aortic root was successfully replaced and antibiotic treatment was continued for 6?weeks after surgery.     

Bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis complicated by mitral valve aneurysm

We describe a case of mitral valve aneurysm associated with concomitant aortic valve endocarditis. Aneurysms appear as a localized saccular bulge of the anterior leaflet into the left atrium and thus are often misdiagnosed as mitral valve prolapse, myxomatous mitral valve, or atrial myxoma. The presentation and management of mitral valve aneurysms are the subject of this case report.     

Surgical treatment with the freestyle bioprosthesis and omentopexy for prosthetic valve endocarditis after aortic root replacement

A 60-year-old woman, who had undergone aortic root replacement with composite graft 5 months previously, suffered from anemia and slight fever. Transthoracic echocardiography showed pseudoaneurysm in the aortic root, and blood culture was positive. She was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis, and surgical intervention was planned. Intraoperatively necrotic tissue and dehiscence of the suture line in the aortic annulus were found. Re-aortic root replacement with Freestyle bioprosthesis and re-hemiarch graft replacement were performed with the omentopexy around the aortic root and the new graft. Antibiotics were administered intravenously for 6 weeks postoperatively. At 7 months after the operation, no prosthetic valve infection had recurred. Although the long-term results of Freestyle bioprosthesis have not been determined, it might be a valuable option for aortic root infection as an alternative to an aortic homograft. In addition, omentopexy might also be effective in the prevention of recurrent prosthetic valve infection.     

Mycotic coronary artery aneurysm from fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis

Two cases of mycotic aneurysms of the left anterior descending coronary artery in patients with fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis are reported. One was managed with exclusion and interposition graft, and the other was managed by aneurysm excision, wide debridement, and distal bypass. The current literature and management strategies are reviewed.     

A case of tuberculous endocarditis with acute aortic valve insufficiency and annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm

Tuberculous endocarditis is an exceptionally rare disease, and its surgical operation has been reported in only one case. This is a successful surgical report of acute aortic insufficiency caused by tuberculous endocarditis associated with annular subvalvular left ventricular aneurysm (ASLVA) beneath the aortic valve. This patient had acute left ventricular failure and cardiorespiratory arrest and suffered from multiple organ dysfunction and coagulopathy disorder. Urgent surgery was performed to replace the aortic valve with the approximation of ASLVA. Histopathological findings of the excised aortic cusps gave the diagnosis of tuberculous endocarditis, and antituberculous drug administration started on the first postoperative day. Postoperative recovery has been uneventful without relapse of tuberculosis for 7 postoperative years.     

Aortic valve endocarditis with aortic root abscess cavity: surgical treatment with aortic valve homograft

Aortic valve endocarditis with an aortic root abscess cavity was treated by a modification of the standard technique of aortic homograft implantation in 3 patients. At a mean follow-up of 35 months, all 3 patients were well without reoperation or signs of aortic incompetence. This technique may, in some cases, be an alternative to the more complex procedure of homograft aortic root replacement with coronary reimplantation.