RESUMO
Objective To report the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE).Methods A retrospective review of 20 consecutive patients,who underwent surgery for PVE between Jan 2003 and Dec 2012,was conducted.Excision of infected prosthetic valves and radical debridement of the infected tissues were completed under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.Six patients were treated by the Bentall procedure,4 patients by the modified Cabrol procedure,4 patients by aortic valve replacement,3 patients by mitral valve replacement and 3 patients by double valve replacement.Results One patient died within 30 days after surgery due to severe sepsis complicated with multiple organ failure and other 19 patients discharged smoothly.A further 2 patients died 2 and 4 months after surgery due to recurrence of fungal infection.Fourteen patients were followed up for 20-124 (59.0 ± 31.8) months.No patient died and no relapse of endocarditis occurred during the period of follow-up.Conclusion Optimal timing of surgical intervention and radical debridement of all infected tissues are the keys to success.