A Case of Healed Aortic Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Accompanied by an Aneurysm of the Sinus of Valsalva Treated with the Aortic Valve Replacement of Perceval / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

An 87-year-old woman underwent AVR (CEP 21 mm) for aortic stenosis at age 73 years. Fourteen years later, she was treated with antibiotics for mediastinal abscess, which showed a tendency to shrink and inflammation improved. At that time, no vegetation or aortic regurgitation was observed. Eight months later, the patient was brought to the emergency room with a complaint of respiratory distress. After close examination, a severe transvalvular leakage was found at the aortic valve position. No vegetation was found. Enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) showed an aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva. The diagnosis of healed aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis with an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was made. The CEP valve was removed at surgery, and the valve leaflet corresponding to the right coronary cusp was destroyed. The left sinus of Valsalva was dilated and a Perceval was implanted. The patient was doing well postoperatively, but a pacemaker was implanted due to atrioventricular dissection. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed that there was no problem with prosthetic valve function at the aortic valve position, and CT showed a reduction of aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 30th postoperative day. Aortic valve replacement with Perceval is effective in high-risk cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Endocarditis infecciosa en válvulas protésicas / Prosthetic valve endocarditis

RESUMEN Introducción: La endocarditis infecciosa sobre prótesis valvulares cardíacas es una de las formas más graves de esta enfermedad, de difícil diagnóstico y asociada con elevada mortalidad. Objetivo: Describir las características de la endocarditis infecciosa en válvulas cardíacas protésicas. Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal desde 2006 hasta 2019 en el Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras. La muestra fue de 40 pacientes. Se utilizaron estadígrafos descriptivos como la media aritmética y la desviación estándar para las variables cuantitativas continuas y el porcentaje para las cualitativas. Resultados: La edad media de los pacientes fue de 54,29±16,07 años, predominaron aquellos con edades entre 40-49 y 60-69 años (27,5%), así como del sexo masculino (67,5%), y el tipo de endocarditis más frecuente fue la tardía 65%. La sepsis oral (27,5%) y la cirugía previa (25%) fueron la puerta de entrada más frecuente. Prevalecieron los cultivos negativos (40%) y los agentes causales estafilococos coagulasa negativos (25%) y estafilococos áureos (10%). En las complicaciones predominaron las insuficiencias cardíacas (32%) y renal (22,5%), y un 20% de los casos tuvo dehiscencia de sutura. El 52,5% de los pacientes recibió tratamiento quirúrgico y la mortalidad fue del 30%. Conclusiones: Predominó la endocarditis tardía, con hemocultivo negativo y de prótesis aórtica. La dehiscencia de prótesis fue el hallazgo ecocardiográfico más encontrado y la insuficiencia cardíaca, la complicación más frecuente. El tratamiento quirúrgico fue el más utilizado y la mortalidad, ajustada para esta enfermedad, fue baja.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Infective endocarditis in prosthetic heart valves is one of the most severe forms of this disease of difficult diagnosis and associated with high mortality. Objective: To describe the characteristics of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Method: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted from 2006 to 2019 at Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras. The sample consisted of 40 patients. Descriptive statistics such as arithmetic mean and standard deviation were used for continuous quantitative variables, and percentage for qualitative ones. Results: The average age of the patients was 54.29+16.07 years old, predominating those between 40-49 and 60-69 years old, as well as males (67.5%); the most frequent type of endocarditis was the late one (65%). Oral sepsis (27.5%) and previous surgery (25%) %) were the most frequent entry points. Negative cultures (40%) and coagulase-negative staphylococcus causative agents (25%) and staphylococcus aureus (10%) prevailed. Heart failure (32%) and kidney failure (22.5%) were the most frequent complications, and 20% of cases had suture dehiscence. The 52.5% of patients received surgical treatment and the mortality was of the 30%. Conclusions: Late endocarditis predominated, with negative blood cultures and of aortic valve prosthesis. Prosthesis dehiscence was the most frequent echocardiographic finding and the heart failure, the most frequent complication. The surgical treatment was the most used, and the mortality, adjusted for this disease, was low.

Epidemiology, Microbiological and Clinical Features, Treatment, and Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis in Crete, Greece / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological features, treatment, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) on the island of Crete, a region with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with IE at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, from 1995 to 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who met the modified Duke's criteria for definite or possible IE were included. RESULTS: A total of 82 IE patients (median age 67 [range 21–86] years) were included. Most patients suffered from left-sided IE (94%), while most cases of infection occurred in native valves (53.6%). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were lacking in almost half of the patient population. The leading causative microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus, isolated in 24 cases (29%), followed by Streptococcus spp. in 15 (18%) and Enterococcus spp. in 12 (14.5%). A number of rare and difficult to treat microorganisms had been identified, such as Gemella morbillorum in four cases (4.5%), Streptococcus lugdunensis in two (2.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one (1%). One patient was serologically positive for Coxiella burnetii (1%). All patients received empirical antimicrobial treatment, proven appropriate in 39 blood culture-positive patients (56.5%). Thirteen (16%) patients were classified as culture negative. Seven patients (8.5%) were surgically treated. In-hospital death occurred in 9 patients (11%). CONCLUSION: Changes in IE profile requires continuous epidemiological updates. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. remain the most common etiologic agents. However, the presence of uncommon and/or difficult to treat pathogens raise concerns on the appropriate prophylaxis as well as empirical treatment.

Epidemiology, Microbiological and Clinical Features, Treatment, and Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis in Crete, Greece / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological features, treatment, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) on the island of Crete, a region with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with IE at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, from 1995 to 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who met the modified Duke's criteria for definite or possible IE were included. RESULTS: A total of 82 IE patients (median age 67 [range 21–86] years) were included. Most patients suffered from left-sided IE (94%), while most cases of infection occurred in native valves (53.6%). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were lacking in almost half of the patient population. The leading causative microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus, isolated in 24 cases (29%), followed by Streptococcus spp. in 15 (18%) and Enterococcus spp. in 12 (14.5%). A number of rare and difficult to treat microorganisms had been identified, such as Gemella morbillorum in four cases (4.5%), Streptococcus lugdunensis in two (2.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one (1%). One patient was serologically positive for Coxiella burnetii (1%). All patients received empirical antimicrobial treatment, proven appropriate in 39 blood culture-positive patients (56.5%). Thirteen (16%) patients were classified as culture negative. Seven patients (8.5%) were surgically treated. In-hospital death occurred in 9 patients (11%). CONCLUSION: Changes in IE profile requires continuous epidemiological updates. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. remain the most common etiologic agents. However, the presence of uncommon and/or difficult to treat pathogens raise concerns on the appropriate prophylaxis as well as empirical treatment.

Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Repair after Mitral Valve Re-replacement for Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 69-year-old woman with a medical history of mitral valve replacement for infective endocarditis 14 years previously was recently admitted after being given a diagnosis with multiple cerebral infarction along with headache and speech disturbance. After emergency admission, both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographies revealed multiple, extensive vegetation on the mitral prosthetic valve. Based on these findings, we diagnosed prosthetic valve endocarditis with cerebral septic embolization ; and immediate mitral valve re-replacement surgery was performed. During the operation, a complication occurred when the left ventricular posterior wall ruptured during withdrawal from the cardiopulmonary bypass after mitral valve re-replacement. After a second cross-clamp and resection of the mitral prosthetic valve, we repaired the myocardial laceration and repeated the mitral valve re-replacement. We selected the following two methods from different approaches to repair the left ventricular rupture : (a) exclusion of the myocardial laceration using a bovine pericardial patch (intracardiac approach) ; and (b) direct suturing of the bleeding epicardium (extracardiac approach).Seven days after the surgery, computed tomography (CT) revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the left ventricular posterior wall. Several follow-up examinations using CT and echocardiography revealed gradual enlargement of the pseudoaneurysm. At 112 days after previous surgery, we successfully repaired the pseudoaneurysm through left lateral thoracotomy using the femorofemoral bypass with hypothermia. In the final surgery, we closed the orifice of the pseudoaneurysm using bovine pericardium. This case highlighted that left thoracotomy using a femorofemoral bypass with hypothermia could be a useful approach to address a left ventricular posterior wall pseudoaneurysm.

Mid-term results of surgical treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the mid-term results of surgical treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 22 PVE patients operated in our institution from January 2006 to June 2016. There were 14 males and 8 females, aged 31-62 (49.6±11.8) years. PVE occurred following single valve replacements in 20 patients, including aortic valve replacements in 12 and mitral valve replacements in 8. Two patients suffered PVE after multi-valve replacement, which was aortic and mitral valves. Mechanical valves were used in all patients. Early PVE (<1 year after valve implantation) was detected in 10 patients, and late PVE (>1 year after valve implantation) in 12 patients. Blood culture was negative in 6 patients. Fifteen patients underwent emergent or urgent surgery (within one week after definite diagnosis) and 7 elective surgery. Paravalvular abscess was detected in 12 patients and repaired bovine pericardium. Results    Three patients (13.6%) died postoperatively in hospital, among whom two died of multiple systemic organ failure, and the other died of cerebral hemorrhage. Main postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome in 5 patients (22.7%), renal dysfunction in 6 (27.3%), respiratory failure in 5 (22.7%) and pulmonary infection in 4 (18.2%). During the follow-up of 6-120 (53.6±20.8) months, 2 deaths were observed in the middle term, including one sudden death and the other of cerebral infarction. No recurrent infection or valve-related surgery was observed during the follow-up. The survival rate was 86.4% in 1 year and 70.4% in 5 years. Conclusion    PVE is a very severe disease with high mortality. Early surgical treatment and complete removal of infectious tissues have preferable early- and mid-term results.

A Successful Case of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis with Previous Aortic Root Replacement / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

<p>A 58 year-old man was referred to our hospital with a fever after dental treatment. He had undergone an operation for aortic root replacement 9 months earlier. <i>Streptococcus </i>species were cultured with venous blood culture. An echocardiogram revealed vegetation attached to the prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve function was good and he did not suffer from heart failure, therefore he was treated with antibiotics. Five days after starting antibiotics, we observed embolization of the brain and the kidney as well as an elevation of his inflammatory reaction. Accordingly, we performed emergency surgery. There was no paravalvular abscess or valve dysfunction, so we simply resected the vegetation and debrided the surrounding tissue. Post-surgical antibiotic therapy was continued for 5 weeks and then he was switched to oral medication. Three years after surgery, he is free from any PVE recurrence.</p>

A Case of Re-replacement of the Mitral Valve in an Intravenous Drug User / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

In Japan, infective endocarditis (IE) or prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) due to intravenous drug use (IDU) is rare. We report the case of a patient with PVE due to IDU who required mitral valve replacement (MVR) and tricuspid valvoplasty (TVP). A 21-year-old woman with an IDU history had earlier acquired IE, and had undergone MVR using a bioprosthetic valve and TVP in November, 2010. She was transferred to our institute because of fever and general fatigue in February, 2012. Echocardiography revealed vegetation on the mitral bioprosthetic valve, and antibiotic administration was started. Although the infectious condition improved, the vegetation became more mobile. A second MVR, using a bioprosthetic valve, and TVP were performed 18 days after admission. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 32. At one and a half years after the second surgery, the patient is currently followed-up regularly at our department, and PVE recurrence has not been observed.

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis due to <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

There are few reports of prosthetic valve endocarditis due to <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i>. Here we report a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis after mitral valve replacement. A 77-year-old woman, who underwent mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annulo-plasty 4 months previously, was admitted to our hospital because of shock and loss of consciousness. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed severe mitral regurgitation due to dehiscence of the prosthetic mitral valve. We used the percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system for the management of circulatory collapse and, performed emergency mitral valve replacement. We detected <i>C. striatum </i>in preoperative blood and vegetation cultures. Antibiotic therapy was continued for 6 weeks, and the patients recovered without any complications.

A Case of Acute Arterial Occlusion of the Lower Extremity Caused by Huge Vegetation of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 79-year-old woman with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) on aortic position underwent re-aortic valve replacement. Although emergency operation was indicated due to huge vegetation over 20 mm in diameter attached to the prosthesis shown by preoperative transesophageal echocardiography, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed disappearance of the vegetation. The prosthesis was carefully removed and replaced by a new bioprosthesis, though only small vegetation was observed on the removed prosthesis. Sudden blue toe 11 h after the operation and diminished pulse on right pedal artery suggested an acute arterial occlusion of a right lower extremity, requiring an emergency thrombectomy. Pathology diagnosed bacterial embolus with fresh thrombus that was considered apart from the prosthesis at the time of operation.

Use of a Valved-Conduit for Exclusion of the Infected Portion in the Prosthetic Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis

A 51-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with complaints of fever and hemoptysis. After evaluation of the fever focus, he was diagnosed with pulmonary valve infective endocarditis. Thus pulmonary valve replacement and antibiotics therapy were performed and discharged. He was brought to the emergency unit presenting with a high fever (>39degrees C) and general weakness 6 months after the initial operation. The echocardiography revealed prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis. Therefore, redo-pulmonary valve replacement using valved conduit was performed in the Rastelli fashion because of the risk of pulmonary arterial wall injury and recurrent endocarditis from the remnant inflammatory tissue. We report here on the successful surgical treatment of prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis with an alternative surgical method.

Use of a Valved-Conduit for Exclusion of the Infected Portion in the Prosthetic Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis

A 51-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with complaints of fever and hemoptysis. After evaluation of the fever focus, he was diagnosed with pulmonary valve infective endocarditis. Thus pulmonary valve replacement and antibiotics therapy were performed and discharged. He was brought to the emergency unit presenting with a high fever (>39degrees C) and general weakness 6 months after the initial operation. The echocardiography revealed prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis. Therefore, redo-pulmonary valve replacement using valved conduit was performed in the Rastelli fashion because of the risk of pulmonary arterial wall injury and recurrent endocarditis from the remnant inflammatory tissue. We report here on the successful surgical treatment of prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis with an alternative surgical method.

Successful Medical Treatment of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis with a Perivalvular Abscess / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 68-year-old man visited our hospital with a high fever with chills 4 years after aortic valve replacement. Streptococcal species were cultured with a venous blood culture. An echocardiogram and a cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a perivalvular abscess (11 mm×15 mm). Because his prosthetic valve functioned well, he was treated with intravenous ampicillin and gentamicin. Cardiac CT scan performed at 6 weeks showed the perivalvular abscess to have disappeared and he was discharged from the hospital. He is free from recurrence of the abscess 20 months after the initiation of therapy.

Reconstruction of the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract with a Rolled Equine Pericardium for Annular Abscess after Aortic Root Replacement / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 61 year-old man was admitted with fever and chest discomfort. He had undergone aortic root replacement for annuloaortic ectasia at age 57. Computed tomography showed a pseudoaneurysm and an abscess formation around the aortic root. Prosthetic valve endocarditis was diagnosed and the underwent repeat aortic root replacement. After debridement and irrigation of the abscess cavity, the left ventricular outflow tract was reconstructed with an equine pericardium, which was rolled to form a conduit. The pericardial conduit was securely sutured to the healthy left ventricular wall and the mitral annulus. A 25 mm-Freestyle valve was then sutured to the distal end of the conduit. The previous prosthetic vascular graft was removed and Completely replaced with a new prosthesis. This method provided secure fixation of a new prosthetic valved conduit to the normal left ventricular tissue with an excellent operative visual field.

Treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis after mitral valve replacement therapy / 中国综合临床

Objective To review the experience of treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE)after mitral valve replacement(MVR)in 16 cases.Methods From September 1979 to December 2010,16 patients were diagnosed as PVE after MVR by modified Duke University diagnostic criteria.There were 10 males and 6 females.Their ages ranged from 19 to 55 years old(mean 28 years old).The incidence of PVE was 0.97％(16/1657)after MVR.Blood culture positive was in 5 cases.Medical treatment alone was performed in 10 patients who were treated by using Penicillin or Vancomycin with other broad-spectrum antibiotics,using Fluconazole and Amphotericin if necessary.Combined medical and surgical management were performed in 6 cases.One emergency case was operated because of obstinate heart failure.Five cases underwent operation after adequate antibiotics treatment and general condition improvement.The infective tissue and vegetation were aggressively debrided after the infective prosthetic valve removed.Before the new valve was replaced paravalvular tissue must be flushed with diluted iodine solution and large quantities of normal saline.Tricuspid valve repair (TVR)was performed during the same period in 3 cases.Results Hospital death occurred in 8 patients and only 2 patients were recovery in group with medical treatment only.The main reasons of death were infective shock and cardiac failure in 4 patients,cerebral complications(embolism or bleeding)and multiple organs failure in 4 cases.While 6 patients cured after combined medical and surgical management.Follow-up had been carried out in 8 cases for 1.7 to 15 years(mean 5.1 years).Eight years later one patient was re-operated because of severe tricuspid regurgitation and paravalvular leak.There was no PVE recurrence in others.Conclusion Combined medical and surgical management for PVE get a better result than medical treatment alone.Good prognosis lies in timely diagnosis,adequate antibiotics,aggressive debridement of infective tissue and better myocardium protection during operation.

Prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis due to Ochrobactrum anthropi.

Ochrobactrum anthropi is an emerging pathogen increasingly affecting the immunocompromised host. Only four cases of infective endocarditis have been documented in literature. Therapeutic approach is a rising challenge as it is resistant to most of the currently available beta lactam antibiotics with the exception of carbapenems. We report a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis secondary to Ochrobactrum anthropi infection; the host was temporarily immunocompromised due to disseminated herpes zoster after surgery.

Analysis of Bacterium and Clinical Feature in Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis and Native Valve Endocarditis / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To analysis the clinical characteristic and pathogenic bacterium of infective endocarditis (IE),and to compare the pathogenic microorganism and vegetation localization between the prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and the native valve endocarditis (NVE).Methods: The data was collected from 266 in-patients who fulfilled Duke Criteria for IE from May 2003 to May 2008 in our hospital.The demographics and clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.Results: There were 243/266 of IE patients suffered from basic heart disease,among them,101 patients with congenital heart disease,77 patients with non-rheumatic valvular heart disease,62 with rheumatic heart disease and 3 with other heart disease.There were 218 (82%) patients with identified vegetation,and the most common vegetation localized at aortic valve,mitral valve,and aortic plus mitral valve in turn.Bacterial cultures were positive in 49.5% of patients.The proportion of Gram-Negative bacillus and Fungi infection had risen in IE.Detection rate of vegetation was lower in PVE patients than that in NVE patients (P<0.01).However,the positive bacterial culture rate was higher in PVE than in NVE (P<0.01).Streptococcus,coagulase negative staphylococcus,gram-negative bacteria showed significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).The spectrum of microorganism was different between the early and the late PVE patients.The in-hospital mortality rate of PVE was higher than NVE.Conclusion: The spectrum and pathogenic bacterium of IE had changed obviously during the past years.Early diagnosis,bacterial culture with correct antibacterial treatment,transesophageal echocardiography,and active prevention of nosocomial infection should be essential for the disease control.

A Case of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Caused by Listeria monocytogenes / 감염

Listerial endocarditis is rare disease with about 60 reported cases in the literatures. Although the clinical and laboratory features of listerial endocarditis are similar to those of subacute bacterial endocarditis caused by other pathogens, the incidence of complications and mortality rates are high. Early diagnosis, adequate treatment, and timely surgery are important for the better outcome. We report a case of a 62 year-old male with prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Listeria monocytogenes, who was successfully treated with antibiotics and surgery (aortic valve and mitral valve re-replacement).

Prosthetic valve endocarditis manifesting multiple huge aspergilloma / 대한내과학회지

Fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis is a rare, poo-prognostic disease. The risk factors for fungal valve endocardits are open heart surgery, hyperalimentation, antibiotic therapy, IV drug abuse, concomitant bacterial endocarditis and immunosuppression. We report a case of aspergillus endocarditis in the aortic valve, which extended to ascending aorta after Redo-aortic valve replacement surgery. A 22-year-old male patient underwent Redo-aortic valve replacement surgery with 23mm-sized Sorin valve(bi-leaflet tilting disc valve) due to prosthetic valve failure. He was readmitted because of development of cough, anorexia, fatigue and fever after operation. The results of repeated blood culture were negative, and the symptoms continued in spite of 2 week treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. Echocardiography and spiral computed tomographic angiography revealed multiple, huge masses in the aortic valve extending to ascending aorta. Emergent surgery was performed. Infected valve and surrounding areas were widely excised and aortic homograft was inserted. Resected aorta and prosthetic valve showed multiple mass-forming vegetations, measuring up to 4cmx3cmx3cm. Microscopically, they revealed fungal organisms, showing sharp-angle branching and septate hyphae. Aspergillus flavus was isolated in culture of resected tissue. The patient suddenly died of ventricular fibrillation 3 weeks after surgery in spite of treatement with intravenous amphotericin B.