title: Long-term follow-up of native valve infective endocarditis.
abstract: Seventy-eight consecutive episodes of infective endocarditis on native valves have been prospectively treated and followed-up after discharge from 1975 to 1982 (mean follow-up period 31 months). Twenty one patients needed valvular replacement in the active phase of the disease. Overall mortality was 15 cases, 7 from the medical group and 8 from the surgical group. At last clinical control 21 from the 46 survivors of the medical group remained asymptomatic, 17 had needed valvular replacement, 5 had died 2 of congestive heart failure and 3 (addicts) were lost to follow-up. From the 13 survivors of the surgical group 8 remained asymptomatic with good prosthetic function, 4 had needed reoperation due to severe periprosthetic leak and 1 died suddenly during follow-up. Figures at the end of follow-up showed that 28% of the initial patients had died, 39% carried a valvular prosthesis and 28% remained asymptomatic. A retrospective analysis of factors predictive of poor prognosis has been carried out.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies