The Assessment of Surgical Therapy on Infective Endocarditis / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Fifteen patients were operated on infective endocarditis (IE). We studied indication for operation, operative methods and results. There were 13 male and 2 female patients and the mean age of these patients was 48.5 years. 8 cases were inactive IE and 3 of them were prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The patients consisted of 4 cases of aortic valve regurgetation, 2 cases of mitral valve regurgetation, 3 cases of PVE and 3 cases of VSD. <i>Casual bacteria</i> were positive for blood culture in 5 cases. The following bacteria findings were found <i>Streptcoccus viridans</i> in 3 patients, <i>gram-negative bacteria</i> and <i>Staphylococcus</i> each in one case. Valve cultures were positive in 3 cases There were <i>gram-positive bacteria</i> in 2 patients and <i>Enterococcus</i> in one case. Vegetations were present in all native valves and the echocardiogram was useful for these findings. There were 3 perioperative deaths (20%) and 2 of those patients were active PVE. All patients with IE who develop progressive congestive heart failure and cerebral emboli should have prompt valve relacement. In paticular active PVE still has high mortality rate.