title: Survival of patients with aortic valve endocarditis. The prognostic implications of the echocardiogram.
abstract: The clinical and prognostic implications of the echocardiogram were assessed in 32 patients with clinical aortic valve endocarditis. Seventeen patients had an echocardiographic diagnosis of a vegetation, a flail cusp, or a root abscess (group 1). Ten group 1 patients had embolic episodes. Eight group 1 patients were treated surgically and all survived, while nine group 1 patients were treated medically and two survived. Eleven patients had echocardiographic aortic valve sclerosis (group 2). One group 2 patient had an embolic episode. Six group 2 patients were treated surgically and four survived, while five group 2 patients were treated medically and three survived. Four patients had normal aortic valve echograms (group 3). One group 3 patient had an embolic episode. All group 3 patients were treated medically and survived.
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis