Infective endocarditis with congenital heart disease

From 1988 to 2005, seven patients were operated at our hospital because of infectious endocarditis (IE) with congenital heart disease (CHD). Underlying CHD included ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 4 (2 previous operations with residual region), atrial septal defect (ASD) in 2 and bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) in 1. No cases had preventive antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures. We could confirm bacteria origin from blood culture in all cases, but two patients had operations without gaining control of the infection. VSD or ASD closure and valve surgery were performed in four patients. One patient had a VSD closure, two patients had valve surgery. There were no operative or hospital deaths and there were no recurrences of IE during the study period. We successfully treated IE with CHD by enough debridement of the infective focus of IE, and valve surgery. It is important for patients with CHD to have preventive antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures.