title: The ability of vegetation size on echocardiography to predict clinical complications: a meta-analysis.
abstract: To clarify whether echocardiographic detection of a vegetation 10 mm or larger in size in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis poses an increased risk for complications, we performed a meta-analysis of English-language publications identified by a computerized search of the key words infective endocarditis and echocardiography. A pooled odds ratio was calculated by using the Robins, Greenland, and Breslow estimate of variance. The pooled odds ratio for increased risk of systemic embolization in the presence of a vegetation >10 mm (10 studies, 738 patients) was 2.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95 to 4.02; p < 0.01). The odds ratio of requiring valve-replacement surgery (seven studies, 549 patients) was 2.95 (95% CI 1.90 to 4.58; p < 0.01). The odds ratio of death (six studies, 476 patients) was 1.55 (95% CI 0.92 to 2.60; p = 0.10). Thus this analysis supports the hypothesis that echocardiographically detected left-sided vegetations >10 mm pose a significantly increased risk of (1) systemic embolization and (2) a need for valve-replacement surgery than cases where either no or smaller vegetations are detected.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, University of Vermont College of Medicine and Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tischler
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Vaitkus
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors