Aspergillus prosthetic valve endocarditis.

The clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features of seven cases of Aspergillus fumigatus prosthetic valve endocarditis are presented. The exact nature of the lesion, a combination of infective fungal endocarditis and thrombosis on the prosthetic valve, is discussed and the difficulties in clinical diagnosis are emphasized. Helpful indications were sudden unexplained heart failure with the appearance of new murmurs, and emboli to large or medium-sized systemic arteries. Fever and anaemia were inconstant, and in no case was blood culture or precipitin investigation helpful. Spore contamination of operating theatre air was the likely source of infection, and measures taken to overcome this and other predisposing factors are discussed. Since medical diagnosis is usually late and the few reported cures in this condition have included replacement of the prosthesis, early surgical intervention combined with antifungal chemotherapy is advised.     

Bacillus cereus prosthetic valve endocarditis

Bacillus cereus is a ubiquitous organism that often contaminates microbiological cultures but rarely causes serious infections. Reports of B cereus endocarditis are infrequent. Infection in patients with valvular heart disease is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. We describe a case of B cereus endocarditis involving a mechanical mitral prosthesis that resolved after replacement of the prosthetic valve. We also review the previous cases reported in the literature.     

人工心脏瓣膜心内膜炎的外科治疗

目的 总结人工心脏瓣膜心内膜炎(PVE)的外科治疗。方法 1990年至2003年8月，手术治疗PVE病人21例，其中亚急性16例，急性5例。血细菌培养阳性13例。心脏超声检查主动脉瓣瓣周漏6例，二尖瓣瓣周漏3例，主动脉瓣区赘生物3例，二尖瓣区5例。应用机械瓣再次手术行二尖瓣置换11例，主动脉瓣置换10例，同期行升主动脉假性瘤切除和主动脉修补成形1例。术中均见有赘生物；二尖瓣环脓肿7例，瓣周脓肿3例；主动脉瓣环脓肿8例，瓣周脓肿4例。结果术后早期死亡5例，其中3例死于感染复发，2例死于多脏器功能衰竭；晚期死亡1例。随访4个月至13年，1例PVE再发，内科治疗无效，死亡。结论及时诊断PVE，正确掌握手术时机，彻底清除感染组织和围术期应用大剂量敏感抗生素，是提高PVE手术效果的关键。     

Peripartum native valve endocarditis without underlying risk factors

Infective endocarditis (IE) complicating pregnancy though rare is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcome. Due to its rarity and varied presentation, literature on IE complicating pregnancy is sparse. We report a case of IE complicating pregnancy caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a healthy pregnant lady without any known risk factors. This is the first documented case of IE complicating pregnancy without any underlying risk factors from the Indian subcontinent. This article also briefly outlines the current recommendation regarding management of infective endocarditis caused by MRSA.     

Surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis and prosthetic valve endocarditis]

Fifteen patients with active native valve endocarditis (NVE) and 5 with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) were subjected to this study. Among the patients with NVE, one of 10 with simple destruction of leaflets and 2 of 5 with annular infection died postoperatively of cerebral bleeding and persistent infection. Five patients with annular infection, whose microorganisms were Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and gram-negative coccus, had a shorter duration from onset to operation (mean 38 days) compared with the others (mean 85 days). A patient with NVE requires an urgent operation, especially when these microorganisms are identified. Among those with PVE, 3 underwent operation at the active phase and one at the chronic phase. Two patients with mechanical valve endocarditis by Staphylococcus and Candida died, but the other 2 with bioprosthetic valve endocarditis by alpha-Streptococcus survived, because infection was localized in the leaflets. Another patient with mechanical valve endocarditis by alpha-Streptococcus survived with conservative management. While a patient with bioprosthetic valve endocarditis requires an early operation as well as NVE, a patient with mechanical valve endocarditis requires selected management considering the microorganism and general condition.     

A practical approach to prosthetic valve endocarditis

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is an infrequent but dread complication, occurring in 1 to 2% of patients both early (less than 60 days) and late postoperatively. Diagnosis is always (99%) possible by two sets of blood cultures, but occasional exogenous causes of bacteremia may cloud the diagnosis, as will culture-negative cases of PVE and skin contaminants. With obvious exogenous sources of bacteremia, achieving sterile blood cultures after eradication of the noncardiac source permits discontinuation of antibiotics after two weeks. When skin contaminants are suspected, withholding antibiotics and obtaining two sets of blood cultures is recommended, because the bacteremia with PVE is continuous. Preventive measures, including perioperative antibiotics, are warranted but will probably not significantly reduce the low incidence of infection already achieved. The major cause of improved survival in recent years is earlier operation (valve rereplacement). This has been demonstrated in the last ten years and is absolutely indicated for major heart failure, ongoing sepsis, fungous etiology, valve obstruction, new-onset heart block, and unstable prosthesis by fluoroscopy.     

The Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis for prosthetic valve endocarditis

We report a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-induced prosthetic valve endocarditis, which was successfully treated with aortic valve replacement using the Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis. The total root and stentless design of this bioprosthesis allows for more radical removal of infected tissue and easier treatment for annular abscess, while requiring less prosthetic materials than a conventional prosthesis. This bioprosthesis thus seems to be a valuable option for active endocarditis.     

Immediate and long-term results of valve replacement for native and prosthetic valve endocarditis

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to compare current results of prosthetic valve replacement following acute infective native valve endocarditis (NVE) with that of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Prosthetic valve replacement is often necessary for acute infective endocarditis. Although valve repair and homografts have been associated with excellent outcome, homograft availability and the importance of valvular destruction often dictate prosthetic valve replacement in patients with acute bacterial endocarditis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the experience with prosthetic valve replacement following acute NVE and PVE between 1988 and 1998 was performed at the Montreal Heart Institute. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients (57 men and 20 women, mean age 48 +/- 16 years) with acute infective endocarditis underwent valve replacement. Fifty patients had NVE and 27 had PVE. Four patients (8%) with NVE died within 30 days of operation and there were no hospital deaths in patients with PVE. Survival at 1, 5, and 7 years averaged 80% +/- 6%, 76% +/- 6%, and 76% +/- 6% for NVE and 70% +/- 9%, 59% +/- 10%, and 55% +/- 10% for PVE, respectively (p = 0.15). Reoperation-free survival at 1, 5, and 7 years averaged 80% +/- 6%, 76% +/- 6%, and 76% +/- 6% for NVE and 45% +/- 10%, 40% +/- 10%, and 36% +/- 9% for PVE (p = 0.003). Five-year survival for NVE averaged 75% +/- 9% following aortic valve replacement and 79% +/- 9% following mitral valve replacement. Five-year survival for PVE averaged 66% +/- 12% following aortic valve replacement and 43% +/- 19% following mitral valve replacement (p = 0.75). Nine patients underwent reoperation during follow-up: indications were prosthesis infection in 4 patients (3 mitral, 1 aortic), dehiscence of mitral prosthesis in 3, and dehiscence of aortic prosthesis in 2. CONCLUSIONS: Prosthetic valve replacement for NVE resulted in good long-term patient survival with a minimal risk of reoperation compared with patients who underwent valve replacement for PVE. In patients with PVE, those who needed reoperation had recurrent endocarditis or noninfectious periprosthetic dehiscence.     

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.     

Brucella glomerulonephritis and prosthetic valve endocarditis: a case report

Although brucellosis is an endemic disease in Mediterranean countries, there are few reported cases of Brucella endocarditis and glomerulonephritis. We report a case of Brucella prosthetic mitral valve endocarditis and glomerulonephritis that could be managed by using only antibiotic therapy, including rifampicin, doxycycline and ceftriaxone, without a surgical procedure.     

Early and late outcomes after reoperation for prosthetic valve endocarditis

OBJECTIVE: Prosthetic valve endocarditis remains a challenging complication after heart valve replacement. To identify predictive risk factors, we have reviewed 30 patients who underwent surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis between March 1986 and May 1999. METHODS: There were 15 men and 15 women (mean age 51 years). Prosthetic valve endocarditis was classified as early (< or = 1 year after operation) in 10 cases, and as late in the other 20 cases. The most common indication for surgery was moderate to severe congestive heart failure due to prosthetic valve dysfunction in 21 (70%) patients. The average follow-up period was 6.5 years, with a range of 0.3 to 14.1 years. RESULTS: The most common microorganism was Staphylococcus epidermidis in both patients with early (50%) and late prosthetic valve endocarditis (25%). The in-hospital mortality was 13.3% (4/30). There were six late deaths. The actuarial survival at 5 years was 78% and 66% at 10 years. An early onset of prosthetic valve endocarditis was the only significant determinant of both in-hospital mortality (p = 0.005) and overall mortality (p = 0.021). Emergency surgery had a statistically significant relationship with in-hospital mortality (p = 0.045). No significant influence on mortality after reoperation for prosthetic valve endocarditis was found in age, sex, valve position, antecedent native valve endocarditis, or in the type of pathological findings (ring abscess, valve dehiscence, and vegetation). CONCLUSION: Early onset of prosthetic valve endocarditis and emergency surgery were important risk factors for mortality due to prosthetic valve endocarditis.     

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.     

Actuarial analysis of the risk of prosthetic valve endocarditis in 1,598 patients with mechanical and bioprosthetic valves

We reviewed the charts of 1,598 patients undergoing valve replacement at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md, from 1956 through 1981. Retrospective analysis disclosed that 43 patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Twelve patients had early (less than 60 days after operation) and 31 patients had late (greater than 60 days after operation) endocarditis. The cumulative risk was 3% at five years and 5% at ten years. We also calculated the interval risk of PVE. The high risk of early PVE development peaked 15 days after operation. The peak risk was 45 episodes per 100,000 patient days. The risk then declined rapidly and from 150 days to 20 years remained stable at approximately one episode per 100,000 patient days. Nine hundred fifty-two patients had valve replacement with a Starr-Edwards prosthesis and 363 patients had valve replacement with a bioprosthetic valve; there was no significant difference in the risk of PVE in either group. Neither the valve make, position, model, nor the number of valves implanted affected the frequency of PVE or the mortality. Actuarial techniques disclosed the high early risk of PVE, the prolonged risk of PVE up to 150 days after operation, and the low but persistent risk late after operation. There was no significant difference in the risk of PVE in patients with bioprosthetic v mechanical valves.