title: The significance of oral health and dental treatment for the postoperative outcome of heart valve surgery.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of preoperative dental treatment for the development of complications in the form of infections during the first postoperative weeks after heart valve surgery. In one group of patients (n = 149), oral health was examined and dental treatment performed 3-6 months prior to heart valve surgery. In a second group (n = 104), oral health was examined postoperatively and these patients did not receive any dental treatment before surgery. Infections were recorded for all patients during the first three weeks after surgery and correlated to the dental status at the time of surgery. Sepsis or endocarditis occurred in 5.4% of the first group and in 1.9% of the second group. Freedom from all infections for the two groups was 55% and 56%, respectively. The results did not reveal any significant differences between the groups regarding patients' oral health at the primary oral examination. The frequencies of postoperative complications such as focal infections, fever and increased CRP were also found to be similar for both groups. The combined scores of complications were 2.1% and 1.8%, respectively. Data from the present study do not support the suggestion that dental intervention will decrease the rate of early complications following heart valve surgery.
authors: Department of Endodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Sahlgrens University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hakeberg
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Dernevik
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gatzinsky
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Eklöf
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kennergren
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jontell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome