Endocarditis after mitral valve repair.
BACKGROUND
Native valve endocarditis is frequently managed with antibiotics alone, but prosthetic valve endocarditis usually requires an early operation. What is the best treatment of endocarditis after mitral valve repair?


METHODS
From 1986 to 2000, 22 patients were treated for endocarditis affecting a previously repaired mitral valve. Causes of mitral valve dysfunction that led to repair were degenerative (11 patients), ischemic (5 patients), endocarditic (3 patients), rheumatic (2 patients), and functional (1 patient). Endocarditis was active in 21 patients and healed in 1. Interval from initial mitral valve repair to onset of endocarditis ranged from 1 week to 10.3 years (median, 6 months). Pathology included leaflet vegetation (15), annuloplasty vegetation (4), leaflet perforation (5), and abscess (3). Mean follow-up was 3.9 +/- 3.3 years.


RESULTS
Fifteen patients underwent repeat mitral valve operations with freedom from mitral valve reoperation of 65%, 41%, and 26% at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years after onset of endocarditis. After a high early hazard, risk of reoperation fell to 10.8% per year. Seven patients, all with a leaflet vegetation, were treated with antibiotics alone. Antibiotics eradicated infection in all; however all had mitral regurgitation 2+ to 4+. Survival was 96%, 74%, and 68% at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years. Endocarditis recurred in 1 patient (92% free of event).


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients that have endocarditis develop after mitral valve repair require reoperation. However if infection is limited to a leaflet, early reoperation may be unnecessary because antibiotics alone can eradicate infection.
Gillinov
A Marc
AM
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA. gillinom@ccf.org
Faber
Christiano N
CN
Sabik
Joseph F
JF
Pettersson
Gosta
G
Griffin
Brian P
BP
Gordon
Steven M
SM
Hayek
Emil
E
Di Paola
Linda M
LM
Cosgrove
Delos M
DM
Blackstone
Eugene H
EH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*