title: Homograft aortic root replacement to correct infective endocarditis requiring seven open cardiac procedures.
abstract: Infective endocarditis, presumably from a septic dental focus, affecting the aortic valve was seen as acute aortic regurgitation in a 20-year-old woman. Seven open cardiac procedures for replacement of the aortic valve and left ventricular outflow tract were performed over the subsequent 6 years. Aortic root replacement using a fresh antibiotic-sterilized homograft was performed as the last definitive operative procedure. This article is presented to highlight (1) the use of homograft aortic root replacement for extensive involvement of aortic valve and left ventricular outflow tract in cases of infective endocarditis and (2) the feasibility of multiple sternal reentries when indicated.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Saldanha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feneley
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Farnsworth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000637:transplantation*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000637:transplantation; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation