Prosthetic valve endocarditis: Clinical findings and management

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Abstract
Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) was shown in 46 patients out of a group of 2163 carrying prosthetic heart valves. The cumulative rate of early PVE was 1·4% and 1·5% for PVE occurring between the 60th day and 10 years after surgery. In 37% of all cases this was caused by staphylococci, 20% by streptococci, and 13% Gram negative species. Fungi were found in 9% and mixed infections in 21%. The incidence of staphylococci, Gram negative pathogens and fungi was significantly higher in early PVE. In 5 patients, valve involvement consisted in echocardiograpiically shown vegetations and/or obstructive thromboendocarditis. In 90% of 37 patients who developed paravalvular leakages, there was high intravascular haemolysis uncharacteristic of the type of prosthesis implanted. In 70% fluoroscopy revealed disproportionate tilting of the prosthetic annulus, and in 75% here was a distinct echocardiographic pattern in the closing movement of the valve poppet. The cumulative survival rate after six months was 31% for the conservatively treated, and 66% for the medically plus surgically treated patients. Survival rates at the end of a maximum follow-up of 20 years was 15% with conservative treatment and 51% after primary surgical therapy. The prognosis was worse (P< 0·01) in patients who, during aortic PVE, developed heart failure refractant to therapy due to haemodynamically significant prosthetic valve dysfunction, to sepsis that persisted for more than 72 h despite antibiotic therapy, to major septic embolism or to acute renal failure. The retrospective prognosis was more favourable for patients with early aortic (P < 0·02) or mitral (P < 0·05) valve re-replacement than for patients who had been treated medically only.

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