title: Aortic root replacement using a homograft for recurrent valve endocarditis.
abstract: Prosthetic valve endocarditis is a relatively rare condition associated with high mortality. Endocarditis affecting 2 successive mechanical valves at the aortic position has not, to the best of our knowledge, been described. We reported such a patient whose condition was further complicated by mitral regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, worsening heart failure, and cardiac conduction abnormalities. Considering the failure of 2 previous mechanical valves, we conducted a homograft replacement of the aortic root with coronary reattachment. Mitral regurgitation was treated by annuloplasty. The patient's early postoperative course was uneventful and he was doing well 16 months after surgery. We discuss the overall treatment strategy for recurrent prosthetic valve endocarditis and potential homograft advantages.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan.
authors.forename: Abul Hasan Muhammad
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bashar
authors.forename: Teruhisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazui
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Washiyama
authors.forename: Katsushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohkura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous