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Technique and Patient Selection Criteria of Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy for Minimal Access Aortic Valve Replacement
Published on: March 26, 2018
Surgical Versus Medical Therapy for Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Meta-Analysis of 32 Studies
Christos G Mihos1, Romain Capoulade1, Evin Yucel1
1Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract:
Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is associated with significant morbidity, and the optimal treatment strategy has not been clearly defined. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies comparing valve reoperation and medical therapy was performed; it included 2,636 patients, with a mean follow-up of 22 months. A valve reoperation was associated with a lower risk of 30-day mortality, greater survival at follow-up, and a similar rate of PVE recurrence. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and to clarify clinical decision-making regarding the timing and necessity of a valve reoperation, as opposed to treatment with medical therapy alone.
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