title: Infective endocarditis. Surgical therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the major causes of surgical morbidity and mortality in patients with infective endocarditis operated upon in a regional cardiology center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients underwent surgical treatment for infective endocarditis. Their ages ranged from 20 to 68 years (mean of 40.6) and 79% were males. Their NYHA functional classes were as follows: IV - 19 (55.8%) patients; III - 12 (35.2%) patients; II - 3 (8.8%) patients. Blood cultures were positive in only 32% of the cases. Eight patients had already undergone previous cardiac surgery, whose major indication (82.3%) was heart failure refractory to clinical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four (11.7%) patients died at the hospital. Follow-up was complete in 26 (86%) patients. Five (14.7%) patients died later, 12, 36, 48, 60, and 89 months after hospital discharge. Of the 21 patients being currently followed up, 1 is in NYHA functional class III, and 5 in NYHA functional class II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high degree of clinical suspicion, at an early diagnosis, and indication of surgical treatment prior to deterioration of left ventricular function and installation of generalized sepsis may improve prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Universidade de Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. fragomeni@annex.com.br
authors.forename: Luís Sérgio de Moura
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Fragomeni
authors.forename: Fabiano Fernandes
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Júlio Cesar de Mello
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bajerski
authors.forename: Roque Paulo
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Falleiro
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoppen
authors.forename: Iselso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sartori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies