Surgical aspect of active infective endocarditis

Twenty patients with active infective endocarditis, 11 with native valve endocarditis (NVE) and 9 with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), were treated surgically from 1975 through April 1987 at Kyushu University Hospital. The operative indications were congestive heart failure mainly due to massive aortic regurgitation in 18, periannular abscess in 6, major embolism in 5 and severe hemolysis in 3 patients. In the group of NVE, single aortic valve replacement was performed in 4 patients and multiple valve replacement in the remainder. One patient died early postoperatively from LOS. Two patients with recurrent infective endocarditis, which occurred within 60 days after previous prosthetic valve replacement, were operated subsequently as early PVE. All other patients became NYHA class I postoperatively except for one patient who died from thrombosed valve. In the group PVE, re-AVR was done in 3, re-MVR in five, double valve replacement in two and re-fixation of the prosthesis to the aortic annulus in one patient. Two patients with early PVE died from recurrent endocarditis late postoperatively. One of 7 patients with late PVE, who had suffered from myocardial and cerebral infarction before reoperation, died from multiple organ failure. There were 3 patients with perivalvular leakage due to late active PVE, whose preoperative signs of inflammation were negative or minimum. As recurrent perivalvular leakage due to persistent infective endocarditis might frequently occur in such cases, complete resection and debridement of infected foci should be emphasized.     

Surgery for infective endocarditis: determinate factors in the outcome

AIM: The appropriate operative procedures for treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) are still controversial. The authors reviewed their own operative results focusing on preoperative risk factors, intraoperative findings and operative procedures. METHODS: The authors reviewed the cases of 40 adult patients who had undergone surgery since 1999. The mean age of patients was 58 years ranging from 31 to 78 including 30 males and 10 females. Thirty-three patients had native valve endocarditis (NVE) and the remaining seven patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Diseased lesions were located in the mitral valve (MV) in 21 patients, aortic valve in 15 and mitral plus aortic valves in four. Twenty-eight patients (70%) were operated on during the active phase of IE. Streptococcus, Staphyrococcus and Enterococcus species were predominant in the bacterial examination. RESULTS: Active vegetation was observed in 26 (65%) patients. Perforation of valve leaflets was observed in 11 (28%) cases. Changes of native MV leaflet were mild in 8 (40%) out of 20, which seemed to be reparable, while, changes of the native aortic valve leaflet were moderate to severe in 13 (87%) out of 15 patients. Valvular annuls were involved in the infection in 17 (43%) patients. Of the 33 NVE patients, prosthetic valve replacement was performed in 29 patients incduding 19 mitral and 15 aortic valves. MV plasty was performed in 4 patients. In seven PVE patients, prosthetic MV replacement was performed twice. In the aortic group, three patients underwent aortic root translocation, The Ross procedure and standard root replacement were performed respectively. Four patients died after surgery including one NVE case and three PVE cases. Three PVE patients who underwent aortic root translocation or the Ross procedure survived. The hospital mortality of NVE and PVE surgery was 3% and 43% (P<0.01), respectively. By univariant anlysis, there were no significant correlations between operative results and preoperative factors such as bacteria, infective phase, cardiac failure, renal failure, sepsis or brain morbidity. The only significant factor on hospital mortality was PVE. Three patients died of non-cardiac diseases during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Operative results of NVE were good after complete resection of infective sites including valve annulus. Both valve replacement and plasty were available for NVE patients. In PVE, new strategies are indispensable and aortic root translocation or the Ross procedure should be a treatment of choice.     

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.     

Incidence and risk factors of prosthetic valve endocarditis

To study the incidence and risk factors of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) we followed 99.5% of 912 patients who had valve replacements from 1 January 1981 to 31 December 1985 for 1-6 (mean 3) years. PVE occurred in 27 patients (2.96% or 0.98% per patient-year). The incidence of PVE in the aortic position (3.9%) was significantly higher than in the mitral position (1.5%): chi-square = 6.1, P less than 0.025. PVE developed in 19 of 329 patients with bioprostheses (5.8%), and in 8 of 583 patients with mechanical valves (1.4%): chi-square = 14.48, P less than 0.005). Actuarially at 5-year follow-up, 90.7% +/- 2.16% of the bioprosthetic group and 98.4% +/- 0.56% of the mechanical valve group was free of PVE (P less than 0.001). Antecedent endocarditis increased both the incidence and relative risk of PVE 7-fold compared to patients without antecedent endocarditis (chi-square = 32.0, P less than 0.0001). Bioprosthetic valve replacement in infective endocarditis increased the risk of PVE 12-fold compared to valve replacement by mechanical prostheses. In conclusion: in the order of importance, antecedent endocarditis, bioprostheses and aortic position are risk factors in the development of PVE. Bioprostheses implanted in patients with antecedent endocarditis further enhance the risk of PVE.     

复杂性感染性心内膜炎的外科治疗

目的评价瓣周脓肿、心肌脓肿以及瓣膜严重毁损等复杂性感染性心内膜炎手术治疗的近、远期疗效.方法回顾性分析1988年12月至2002年6月手术治疗的复杂性心内膜炎患者57例临床资料,均为原发性心内膜炎,其中感染侵犯主动脉瓣25例、二尖瓣16例、二尖瓣和主动脉瓣16例.术中发现瓣叶严重毁损32例、主动脉瓣周脓肿19例、主动脉根部环形脓肿导致左心室-主动脉连接破坏4例、二尖瓣后瓣环脓肿11例、心肌脓肿6例、瓣膜赘生物形成55例.脓肿清除后遗留残腔采用间断褥式缝合6例、自体心包片修补19例、牛心包片修补6例、聚四氟乙烯膨体补片修补4例;施行以带瓣管道作升主动脉根部替换和左、右冠状动脉移植术4例,主动脉瓣替换术21例,二尖瓣替换术16例,主动脉瓣及二尖瓣双瓣替换术16例.结果早期死亡6例(11%),死亡主要原因为低心输出量综合征、人造心脏瓣膜性心内膜炎和多脏器功能衰竭.随访4个月至14年,平均(5.93±0.20)年.晚期死亡5例,晚期主要并发症为人造瓣膜性心内膜炎.术后1年心功能恢复NYHA分组Ⅰ～Ⅱ级占96%(44/46);5年再手术免除率为(84±3)%,5年实际生存率为(61±9)%.结论复杂性心内膜炎局部组织破坏较多,应限期手术或急症手术,清创后残腔的处理是影响手术本身能否成功以及术后近、远期效果的关键.     

Aortic and mitral valve replacement with reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body: an analysis of clinical outcomes

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the late outcomes of reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body during aortic and mitral valve replacement. METHODS: Seventy-six consecutive patients underwent reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body with replacement of the mitral and aortic valves. There were 35 men and 41 women whose mean age was 58 +/- 12 years. Additional procedures were circumferential reconstruction of the mitral annulus in 27 patients, tricuspid valve repair in 21, coronary artery bypass in 15, and aortic root replacement in 4. Indications for the operation were active infective endocarditis with abscess in 15 patients, extensive calcification of the mitral annulus and interventricular fibrous body in 24, lack of fibrous tissue to secure a prosthetic valve in 17, and treatment or prevention of patient-prosthesis mismatch in 20. Fifty-five patients had undergone one or more previous valve operations, and 52 (68%) were in functional class IV. The mean follow-up was 47 +/- 47 months, and it was complete. RESULTS: There were 8 (10%) operative and 18 (24%) late deaths. The 10-year survival was 50% +/- 9%. There were 15 reoperations in 12 patients: 7 for prosthetic valve endocarditis (5 early, 2 late), 7 for patch or valve dehiscence (3 early, 4 late), and 1 for structural valve deterioration. All but 2 reoperations were re-reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body and double valve replacement. The 10-year freedom from reoperation was 73% +/- 7%. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrous body during double valve replacement is a technically challenging operation, but it is useful in patients with complex valve pathology for whom no alternative procedure is available.     

Active infective endocarditis: low mortality associated with early surgical treatment

BACKGROUND: Early surgical treatment is important for successful outcome in selected cases of active, either native (NVE) or prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The aim of this study was to evaluate the early results of the surgical treatment of active NVE and PVE. METHODS: During a 3-yr period (January 1 1996-December 31 1998), 57 out of 60 patients (pts) with active, either NVE (46 pts) or PVE (11 pts) underwent surgical treatment. There were 11 women (23.9%), average age of the group being 43.3+/-9.1yr (18-73). They were operated on 12-35days, mean 17.7+/-7.5days (for NVE) and 5-33days, mean 13.2+/-10.1days (for PVE) after the diagnosis of endocarditis was first suspected. All pts had at least one absolute indication for early surgical treatment, the most frequent being (in NVE) worsening heart failure (19 cases) and inability to control the infection (10 cases), while in PVE it was valve dehiscence (8 cases). In 8 cases of NVE and 2 cases of PVE fresh, antibiotic sterilized aortic homograft was used to replace the aortic valve. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 1.8% (1/57) and hospital mortality 5.2% (3/57). Three pts with PVE died before they were operated on, giving an overall mortality of 10% (6/60). Postoperative morbidity included valve dehiscence in two pts (probable late onset recurrent endocarditis - 3.5%), three episodes of acute renal failure (5.3%), four cases of respiratory insufficiency (7.0%) and one chronic pleural effusion (1.8%). All pts that were discharged from the hospital (54/60), are still alive and well 1-35months postoperatively (mean 20.3+/-9.6months), including pts with recurrent endocarditis and valve dehiscence, after they were successfully reoperated. CONCLUSIONS: Along with early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, aggressive surgical attitude is of importance for the successful outcome in this group of seriously ill patients. Our data indicate that early surgical treatment in cases of active endocarditis may be associated with low mortality and morbidity.     

Surgical treatment of paravalvular abscess: long-term results.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the outcomes of surgery for active infective endocarditis with paravalvular abscess. METHODS: Paravalvular abscess was defined as infective necrosis of the valve annulus that required patch reconstruction before implanting a new valve. Of 383 patients with active infective endocarditis who underwent surgical treatment, 135 (35%) had paravalvular abscess. Patients' mean age was 51+/-16 years and 68% were men. The infected valve was native in 69 patients and prosthetic in 66. The abscess involved the aortic annulus in 73 patients, the mitral annulus in 27, the aortic and mitral annuluses in 33, and the aortic and tricuspid and/or pulmonary annuluses in 2. Surgery consisted of radical resection of the abscess, reconstruction of the annulus with patches and valve replacement. Mean follow-up was 6.2+/-5.2 years and complete. RESULTS: There were 21 (15.5%) operative deaths. Preoperative shock and abscess in the aortic and mitral annuluses were independent predictors of operative death. There were 34 (25%) late deaths. Survival at 15 years was 43+/-6% for all patients, 50+/-8% for native valve endocarditis and 35+/-9% for prosthetic (p=0.41). Age by increments of 5 years and recurrent endocarditis were independent predictors of late death. There were 16 episodes of recurrent endocarditis in 15 patients, and the freedom from recurrent endocarditis was 82+/-4% at 15 years. Fifteen reoperations were performed in 14 patients. Freedom from reoperation was 72+/-9% at 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for active endocarditis with paravalvular abscess was associated with high operative mortality, particularly in patients in shock and abscess of both mitral and aortic annuluses. Long-term survival was adversely affected by age and recurrent bouts of endocarditis.     

Clinical evaluation of treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis and analysis of factors affecting outcome of surgical therapy]

We analyzed the outcome for 18 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) treated between 1965 and 1990, 17 of whom had undergone valve replacement with mechanical prosthetic valves and one of whom had a bioprosthesis. Two patients developed infection within 60 days after surgery, and 16 thereafter. Fifteen patients received combined medical and surgical therapy and three medical therapy. In 14 patients, surgery had been performed during active infection. Mortality rate of those who had received combined medical and surgical therapy was 27%, and that of those who had received medical therapy was 67%. At operation, para-annular abscess was around the mitral prosthesis was found in three patients and around the aortic prosthesis in eight. Seven patients required reoperation for postoperative paravalvular leakage, in six, para-annular abscess had been found at the operation for PVE, and in one para-annular abscess had been noted. One patient who had undergone reoperation had developed reinfection after the first surgery and died due to multiple organ failure after the second operation (Danielson's translocation technique). In one patient who had complete loss of supporting tissue because of severe para-annular abscess, we had performed aortic valve replacement by implanting the aortic valve prosthesis into the left ventricle with Dacron felt-supported sutures placed in the mitral annulus and the muscles of the left ventricular outflow tract. This patient showed no postoperative infection or no paravalvular leakage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

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.     

Twenty-year experience with the St Jude Medical mechanical valve prosthesis

BACKGROUND: We have prospectively followed all adult St Jude Medical mechanical valve recipients at the Medical University of South Carolina since the initial implant in January 1979 and now present our 20-year experience. METHODS: We prospectively followed 837 valve recipients (aortic valve replacement; n = 478; mitral valve replacement; n = 359) from January 1979 to December 2000 at 12-month intervals. RESULTS: Ages ranged from 19 to 84 years. Follow-up averaged (mean +/- standard deviation) 7 +/- 5 years (98% complete). Patients were in New York Heart Association class III or IV in 77% (aortic valve replacement) and 89% (mitral valve replacement) preoperatively. A 19-mm valve was implanted in 15.5% of aortic valve replacement patients. Coronary bypass was required in 31% of aortic valve replacements and 20% of mitral valve replacements. Operative mortality was 17/478 (3.6%) in aortic valve replacement and 19/359 (5.3%) in mitral valve replacement, and multivariable predictors were 19-mm valve size, 3 or more coronary bypass grafts, and New York Heart Association class IV for aortic valve replacement and New York Heart Association class IV and age for mitral valve replacement. Actuarial survivorship at 10 and 20 years was 57% +/- 3% and 26% +/- 5% for aortic valve replacement and 61% +/- 3% and 39% +/- 4% for mitral valve replacement. Multivariable predictors of late death were African-American ethnicity, New York Heart Association class III or IV, coronary bypass, and age for aortic valve replacement and New York Heart Association class III or IV, coronary bypass, and age for mitral valve replacement. For aortic valve replacement, effective orifice area was univariately (P =.002) but not multivariately (P =.378) predictive of late death. Structural valve deterioration was not observed. For aortic valve replacement, actuarial freedom (at 10 and 20 years) from reoperation was 93% +/- 1% and 90% +/- 2%; thromboembolism, 82% +/- 3% and 68% +/- 8%; bleeding events, 77% +/- 3% and 66% +/- 6%; prosthetic valve endocarditis, 94% +/- 1% and 94% +/- 1%; valve-related mortality, 94% +/- 2% and 86% +/- 4%; and valve-related mortality or morbidity, 58% +/- 3% and 32% +/- 8%. For mitral valve replacement, actuarial freedom (at 10 and 20 years) from reoperation was 96% +/- 1% and 90% +/- 3%; thromboembolism, 77% +/- 3% and 59% +/- 7%; bleeding events, 86% +/- 2% and 65% +/- 8%; prosthetic valve endocarditis, 98% +/- 1% and 96% +/- 2%; valve-related mortality, 89% +/- 0.2% and 74% +/- 8%; and valve-related mortality or morbidity, 63% +/- 3% and 29% +/- 7%. CONCLUSIONS: After 2 decades of observation with close follow-up, the St Jude Medical mechanical valve continues to be a reliable prosthesis.     

Surgical management of acute aortic root endocarditis with viable homograft: 13-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: Cryopreserved homograft valves have been used for acute infective aortic root endocarditis with great success but it is compounded by its availability in all sizes. The long-term clinical results of geometric mismatched homografts are not well defined and addressed. METHODS: Over a 15-year period (April 1986-June 2001), 816 patients presented with active infective endocarditis. One hundred and eighty-two of the patients aged between 9 and 78 years (mean: 51.0 +/- 1.13 years) consisting of 142 males and 40 females received homograft aortic valves. One hundred and ten patients were in NYHA functional class III and 72 in class IV and in cardiogenic shock. Of the patients, 2.7% suffered from septic embolism. One hundred and twenty-four (68.1%) patients presented with periannular abscesses and 58 (31.9%) with no abscess while 107 native valve (NVE) and 75 prosthetic valve (PVE) endocarditis were diagnosed preoperatively by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and confirmed intraoperatively. Freehand subcoronary implantation (FSCI) was used in 106 patients and root replacement in 76 patients. RESULTS: The operative death was 8.5% and for patients in NYHA functional class IV and in cardiogenic shock was 14.5%. Late mortality rate was 7.9%. Patient survival after discharge from hospital at 1 year was 97% and at 10 years was 91%, respectively. Thirty-one (22.1%) patients underwent reoperation after 1.7 years (mean) with two deaths (6.4%). Early (< or = 60 days) and late reinfection rate was 2.7 and 3.6%, respectively. Freedom from reoperation for matched and undersized homografts at 10-13 years was 85 and 55%, respectively. The univariate model identified undersized homograft (P=0.002), FSCI (P=0.09) and reinfection (P=0.0001) as independent risk factors for developing early and late valve dysfunction resulting in reoperation and homograft explant. CONCLUSION: Early aggressive valve replacement with homograft for active infective aortic root endocarditis with periannular abscesses is more successful than delayed last resort surgery. Homografts exhibit excellent clinical performance and durability with a low rate of reinfection, if properly inserted. Undersized homograft is an incremental risk factor for early and late reoperation.     

Successful aortic root replacement for prosthetic valve endocarditis using the freestyle stentless bioprosthesis: report of two cases

We report two cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis which were successfully treated with aortic root replacement using the freestyle stentless bioprosthesis. Prosthetic valve endocarditis occurred in two patients after aortic valve replacement and modified Bentall operation, respectively. The aortic annulus was severely damaged and left ventriculo-aortic discontinuity was found in both cases. We used the freestyle stentless bioprosthesis, which fits well to the destroyed aortic annulus with left ventriculo-aortic discontinuity, because of its flexibility. Postoperative echocardiography revealed excellent hemodynamic results in both cases. Although the long-term results obtained with the freestyle stentless bioprosthesis, such as resistance to bacterial infection, have not been reported, this prosthesis appears to be very useful for treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis. We expect that this prosthesis might be a option for PVE as an alternative to a homograft.     

Allograft aortic root replacement in complex prosthetic endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perioperative and long-term results of complex prosthetic valve endocarditis treated by allograft aortic root replacement. METHODS: From April 1988 through February 2006, 41 patients diagnosed as prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) complicated by root abscess and/or periprosthetic leak, underwent fresh allograft valve replacement by root replacement. There were 37 males (89.7%) and the mean age was 51.5+/-13.7 years. The NYHA functional class was 3.0+/-0.1. Thirty-seven patients (90%) had a mechanical prosthesis and in 10 (25.6%) the PVE was recent (< 3 months). Ten patients (24.4%) underwent emergency valve replacement and four (9.8%) presented with chronic renal failure. The patients were followed for a mean of 54.3 (2-166) months and the end-points were death of the patient or allograft failure. RESULTS: There were two hospital deaths (4.8%), both in patients with perioperative low cardiac output. Nine patients had transient acute renal failure (22.0%) but none required dialysis. Three patients (7.3%) needed pacemaker for complete A-V block. Eight patients (19.5%) died late; two died of cardiac reasons, four of non-cardiac reasons (stroke-one; acute colecystitis-two; traffic accident-two) and two of unknown cause. Two patients needed reoperation due to allograft failure at 61 and 82 months. In no case was there evidence of recurrence of endocarditis during the follow-up. The 10-year survival was 79%. CONCLUSIONS: Allograft aortic root replacement in prosthetic endocarditis complicated by abscess and/or periprosthetic leakage carries low morbidity and mortality and, in this series, no recurrence of infection. In our experience, these results are superior to those obtained with other valvular substitutes.     

Mid-term surgical results after valve replacement with the carbomedics valve prosthesis

We present herein a review of 95 patients who underwent valve replacement with the CarboMedics (CM) valve prosthesis between April 1990 and December 1992. The operative mortality for the entire group was 4.2%: 0% following aortic valve replacement (AVR), 2.7% following mitral valve replacement (MVR), and 12.5% following double valve replacement (DVR). All patients were prescribed warfarin and bucolome for anticoagulation, and were followed up for a mean period of 29.9 months. Late mortality was 8.4%: 3.1% following AVR, 10.8% following MVR, and 12.5% following DVR. There were no cases of mechanical prosthetic valve failure, significant hemolysis, infective prosthetic valve endocarditis, or bleeding complications. After 44 months of follow-up, the actuarial freedom from complications was calculated as: thromboembolism, 97.8±1.6%; valve thrombosis, 97.8±1.1%; paravalvular leak, 96.7±1.9%; and reoperation, 98.9±1.1%. The overall survival rate was 84.3±6.3% and all survivors showed a significant improvement in NYHA functional class, from 81% in classes III and IV preoperatively to 99% in classes I and II postoperatively. The CM valve exhibited no significant differences in hemolytic parameters or hemodynamic performance after isolated AVR or MVR compared with the similar type of St. Jude Medical bileaflet valve. The evidence provided by the present study therefore suggests that the CM valve prosthesis can achieve excellent mid-term clinical results and hemodynamic performance with a low incidence of thromboembolism and valve thrombosis.     

Heart valve operations in patients with active infective endocarditis

Sixty-two consecutive patients underwent heart valve operation for active infective endocarditis. There were 42 men and 20 women whose mean age was 49 years (range, 21 to 79 years). The infection was in the aortic valve in 37 patients, the mitral valve in 18, the aortic and mitral valves in 5, and the tricuspid valve in 2. Twenty-four patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were responsible for 86% of the infections. Annular abscess was encountered in 33 patients. Complex valve procedures involving reconstruction of the left ventricular inflow or outflow tract or both were performed in 31 patients. There were three operative deaths (4.8%). Predictors of operative mortality were prosthetic valve endocarditis, preoperative shock, and annular abscess. Patients were followed for 1 month to 130 months (mean follow-up, 43 months). Only 1 patient required reoperation for persistent infection. There were ten late deaths. Most survivors (96%) are currently in New York Heart Association class I or II. The 5-year actuarial survival was 79% +/- 7%. These data demonstrate excellent results in patients with native valve endocarditis, and support the premise that patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis should have early surgical intervention.     

Replacing the ascending aorta and aortic valve for acute prosthetic valve endocarditis: is using prosthetic material contraindicated?

BACKGROUND: The use of prosthetic material (rather than a homograft) for ascending aorta/aortic valve replacement (Bentall procedure) in cases of acute prosthetic valve endocarditis is controversial. We report favorable results using this technique almost exclusively (a homograft was used in only 3 patients with hematological problems) during a 12-year interval. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (55 +/- 14 years; 22 male) underwent a Bentall procedure for acute prosthetic valve endocarditis between 1988 and 2000. Twenty-five patients had undergone previous aortic valve replacement (1 with concomitant mitral valve replacement, 4 with coronary artery bypass grafting), and 3 had had a previous Bentall operation. The median interval between initial surgery and reoperation was 13 months (range, 1 to 106). Sixty-eight percent of operations were urgent or emergencies. Ninety-three percent of patients had significant aortic regurgitation; complete annuloaortic dehiscence occurred in 71%, and in 57%, an abscess was found. Causative organisms were identified in 25 of 28 patients: Staphylococcus epidermidis (9), Staphylococcus aureus (7), Streptococcus viridans (6), Pseudomonas (2), and Legionella (1). RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had mechanical and 5 had biological valves implanted during the Bentall procedure. Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 64%. Hospital mortality was 11%: there was one intraoperative death, and two before discharge (one cardiac, one sepsis). Eighty-nine percent survived without stroke. During follow-up (median, 44.5 months; complete in 92%), 1 patient died of recurrent endocarditis at 4 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that prosthetic root replacement may be superior to use of a homograft for acute aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis, with only a 4% incidence of recurrent endocarditis and reoperation.     

Transseptal suture fixation in the management of prosthetic valve dehiscence

Valve dehiscence resulted from prosthetic valve endocarditis and aortitis is the most common cause of the reoperation after prosthetic valve replacement. In our experience, the results of reoperation has been far from satisfactory. For the successful management of prosthetic dehiscence, we have adopted the transseptal suture technique of accurately securing the prosthetic valve. Five patients with prosthetic valve dehiscence and one patient with native valve endocarditis were operated upon using the transseptal techniques. Left ventricular-aortic discontinuity was repaired using composite valve-tube graft together with this technique in two patients. All but one patient who succumbed to multiple organ failure induced by preoperative hemodynamic deterioration have survived the operation without recurrent infective endocarditis or valve dehiscence.     

Heart valve replacement with the Sorin tilting-disc prosthesis. A 10-year experience.

From 1978 to 1988, 697 patients with a mean age of 48 +/- 11 years (range 5 to 75 years) received a Sorin tilting-disc prosthesis; 358 had had aortic valve replacement, 247 mitral valve replacement, and 92 mitral and aortic valve replacement. Operative mortality rates were 7.8%, 11.3%, and 10.8%, respectively, in the three groups. Cumulative duration of follow-up is 1650 patient-years for aortic valve replacement (maximum follow-up 11.4 years), 963 patient-years for mitral valve replacement (maximum follow-up 9.9 years) and 328 patient-years for mitral and aortic valve replacement (maximum follow-up 9.4 years). Actuarial survival at 9 years is 72% +/- 4% after mitral valve replacement, 70% +/- 3% after aortic valve replacement, and 50% +/- 12% after mitral and aortic valve replacement, and actuarial freedom from valve-related deaths is 97% +/- 2% after mitral valve replacement, 92% +/- 2% after aortic valve replacement, and 62% +/- 15% after mitral and aortic valve replacement. Thromboembolic events occurred in 21 patients with aortic valve replacement (1.3% +/- 0.2%/pt-yr), in 12 with mitral valve replacement (1.2% +/- 0.3% pt-yr), and in seven with mitral and aortic valve replacement (2.1% +/- 0.8%), with one case of prosthetic thrombosis in each group; actuarial freedom from thromboembolism at 9 years is 92% +/- 3% after mitral valve replacement, 91% +/- 3% after aortic valve replacement, and 74% +/- 16% after mitral and aortic valve replacement. Anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was observed in 15 patients after aortic valve replacement (0.9% +/- 0.2%/pt-yr), in 9 after mitral valve replacement (0.9% +/- 0.3%/pt-yr), and in 6 with mitral and aortic valve replacement (0.9% +/- 0.5%/pt-yr); actuarial freedom from this complication at 9 years is 94% +/- 2% after aortic valve replacement, 91% +/- 4% after mitral valve replacement, and 68% +/- 16% after mitral and aortic valve replacement. Actuarial freedom from reoperation at 9 years is 97% +/- 2% after mitral and aortic valve replacement, 92% +/- 4% after mitral valve replacement, and 89% +/- 3% after aortic valve replacement, with no cases of mechanical fracture. The Sorin valve has shown a satisfactory long-term overall performance, comparable with other mechanical prostheses, and an excellent durability that renders it a reliable heart valve substitute for the mitral and aortic positions.     

Clinical experience with the omnicarbon valve prosthesis]

Between January 1985 and March 1990, isolated valve replacements with the Omnicarbon valve were performed in 90 patients aged 34-72 years. There were 53 aortic valve replacements (AVR) and 37 mitral valve replacements (MVR). The cumulative follow-up was 320 patient-year (py) with a mean follow-up of 3.7 +/- 1.4 years. There were 3 operative and hospital mortalities (3.3%), resulting from retrograde aortic dissection during cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative renal failure, and rupture of infective pseudoaneurysm in ascending aorta. Seven patients died during the late postoperative period, 4 due to valve-related causes. Two of these patients died of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), while the others died of thromboembolism (including valve thrombosis). The overall actuarial survival rate at 6 years was 86.3% (98.8% for AVR, and 82.1% for MVR). There were 2 thromboembolic events (one mesenteric artery thrombosis, and the other valve thrombosis). The linearized incidence of thromboembolism was 0.63%/py. PVE occurred in 3 patients (0.94%/py). One patient (0.31%/py) was found to have a valve dehiscence due to aortitis syndrome. There were no instances of anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, or valve-related hemolysis. The actuarial rate of freedom from valve-related mortality at 6 years was 93.5% (100% for AVR, and 88.1% for MVR). On the basis of a follow-up period of 6 years, good clinical results and a low incidence of valve-related complications can be demonstrated with Omnicarbon valve.