title: [Surgery for bacterial endocarditis: retrospective study of 32 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery for active endocarditis is indicated in cases of congestive heart failure (CHF), persistent sepsis, systemic embolization and paravalvular involvement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess and report the long term results of surgery in adult patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of clinical records and operative procedures of 32 patients aged 43+/- 13 years (28 women) subjected to reparative surgery for complications of endocarditis between 1993 to 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 25% of cases, endocarditis presented as a prolonged sepsis syndrome and in 31% as a CHF or both. The causative bacteria was Gram (+) in 53% and blood cultures were negative in 47%. Preoperative echocardiography showed vegetations in 56% of cases. An annular abscess, aortic valve rupture and bicuspid valve, was observed in 13% of patients. Post operative mortality was due to persistent sepsis and multi-organic dysfunction in 16%. Mean long term follow up was 43.8+/-47.2 months. Actuarial survival was 78% at 146 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical management of active endocarditis provides a good symptomatic recovery, with an excellent long term actuarial survival.
authors.affiliation: Cirugía Cardiovascular, Hospital Regional de Temuco, Temuco, Chile. jcbahamo@ufro.cl
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bahamondes
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merino S
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva V
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salman A
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Redel S
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Droguett G
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome