[Surgical interventions for complex native valve endocarditis].
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the early and long-term results of surgical treatment for complex infective endocarditis with prosthetic valve replacement.


METHODS
Fifty-seven patients of complex native valve endocarditis, including 25 cases of aortic valve, 16 of mitral valve and 16 of double valves, who underwent operative interventions with prosthetic valve replacement between December 1988 and June 2002, were analyzed retrospectively. Intraoperative findings demonstrated aortic annular abscesses (n = 19), root abscesses (n = 4), mitral posterior annular abscesses (n = 11), myocardial abscesses (n = 6), massive leaflet destruction (n = 32) and valvular vegetations (n = 55). Complex reconstruction of the aortic and mitral annulus was required in 35 patients. Associated procedures included Bentall's procedure (n = 4), aortic valve replacement (n = 21), mitral valve replacement (n = 16) and double valve replacements (n = 16).


RESULTS
The operative mortality was 11%. Complications included low cardiac output syndrome, recurrence of endocarditis, multiple organ failure, ventricular arrhythmia, bleeding, mediastinal infection, respiratory insufficiency and heart block. Follow-up was 100% complete at a mean of 5.93 years. There were five late deaths (3 prosthetic valve endocarditis, 2 valve-related). The NYHA functional status recovered to Class I in 17 patients, Class II in 27 and Class III in 2 at 1 year follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the 5-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was (84 +/- 3)%, and actuarial survivorship at 5 years was (61 +/- 9)%.


CONCLUSIONS
Urgent or even emergency operation is advocated for complex infective endocarditis. Proper intraoperative reconstruction of the aortic and mitral annulus and optimized perioperative management, especially the strategy for prevention of recurrent endocarditis, are of great importance in achieving satisfied early and long-term clinical outcomes.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhi-Nong
ZN
Wang
Bao-Ren
BR
Zhang
Zhi-Yun
ZY
Xu
Jia-Hua
JH
Hao
Liang-Jian
LJ
Zou
Ju
J
Mei
Ji-Bin
JB
Xu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies