title: Valve replacement in patients with endocarditis and cerebral septic emboli.
abstract: Cerebral septic emboli complicate the cases in 20% to 40% of patients with left-sided endocarditis but the management of these patients who require a valvar operation remains unclear. From 1980 to 1988, the incidence of cerebral septic embolus was 42% (n = 45) among 106 patients with endocarditis who underwent valve replacement at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. Of these 45 patients, 69% (n = 31) had symptomatic cerebral septic infarctions and 31% (n = 14) were asymptomatic. Findings on cerebral computed tomographic scans included ischemic infarcts (n = 36, 80%), hemorrhagic infarcts (n = 5, 11%), normal studies (n = 2, 4%), and unknown (n = 2, 4%). Neurological complications after valve replacement included postoperative strokes (n = 6, 6%), cerebral abscesses (n = 2, 2%), and seizure (n = 1, 1%). The presence of a hemorrhagic infarct preoperatively predisposed to a perioperative stroke (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, cerebral septic infarctions, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, are common among patients with endocarditis referred for valvar operation. In the absence of a hemorrhagic infarct, valve replacement can be performed with minimal risk of a perioperative stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levitsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed