title: [Long-term results of the surgical treatment in acute aortic valve endocarditis].
abstract: Late results after surgery for acute infectious aortic endocarditis using allografts are compared with those achieved with bioprostheses or mechanical heart valves. Cryopreserved allografts were used in 74 (22%) and prosthetic heart valve in 262 out of 336 (78%) patients presenting acute aortic endocarditis. Prosthetic (p = 0.001) and destructive endocarditis (p = 0.001) were more frequent in patients receiving allografts. Mean follow-up time was 6.6 +/- 4 years (range, 3 to 28 years). The 30-day-mortality was 19% for allograft patients and 6% for those receiving prosthetic heart valves (p = 0.002). Early reoperation, postoperative renal failure and sepsis did not differ between groups. After 20 years, actuarial survival was 60% for mechanical heart valves, 44% for bioprosthesis and 38% for allografts (p = 0.003), reoperation was unnecessary in 52% of mechanical heart valves and 10% of bioprostheses and allografts (p = 0.0007). Acute infection at the time of operation (p = 0.0001), redo surgery (p = 0.0006), staphylococci (p = 0.0003), older age (p = 0.004) and mitral valve involvement (p = 0.004) were risk factors for late death, irrespective of preoperative antibiotic treatment and type of prosthesis used. A longer bypass and aortic cross-clamp time predicted early (p = 0.0001) and late survival (p = 0.0001), independently. Destructive aortic endocarditis has a poor long-term outcome irrespective of the use of allografts. Acute infection at the time of surgery predicted early and late death; however, surgery is indicated prior to secondary involvement of the mitral valve. The duration of preoperative antibiotic treatment did not affect outcome. A thorough surgical technique directly influences early and late survival.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Herz- und Gefässchirurgie Universitätsklinikum Rudolf-Buchheim-Str. 7 35385 Giessen, Germany. paul.vogt@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Brunner-LaRocca
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous