Outcomes of surgery for infective endocarditis: a single-centre experience of 801 patients

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a life-threatening disease, despite the improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic measures. We reviewed our outcomes for all adults who underwent surgery for endocarditis at our centre.

Between January 1995 and December 2013, 801 patients [586 men (73%)] underwent surgery for IE. Mean age was 60 ± 14.7 years. Native endocarditis (NE) was present in 372 patients (46%), and 379 (47%) patients had active IE. The mean follow-up period was 4.6 ± 4.75 years (maximum 20 years).

Single-valve endocarditis was present in 551 (69%) patients (392 aortic and 159 mitral). Multivalve involvement was present in 250 (31%) patients. Preoperative stroke was present in 149 (19%) patients, while 62 (8%) patients were on dialysis prior to surgery. Valve repair was possible in 122 (15%) patients, while 679 (85%) patients underwent valve replacement. Mechanical valves were used in 312 (39%) patients. Aortic homografts were used in 84 (10%) patients. Early mortality occurred in 64 (8%) patients. Overall survival at 5, 10 and 20 years was 68%, 45% and 8.4%, respectively. Postoperative stroke occurred in 16 (2%) patients, while 59 (7%) patients required new dialysis postoperatively. Multivariate analysis revealed active IE (P = 0.002), preoperative dialysis (P = 0.007), previous coronary artery bypass grafting (P = 0.001), root abscess (P = 0.006) and tricuspid valve or multivalve involvement (P = 0.002) to be predictors of early mortality. The need for dialysis (P < 0.001), previous coronary artery bypass grafting (P < 0.001) and mitral valve (P = 0.002) and tricuspid valve/multivalve involvement (P < 0.001) were significant predictors of late mortality.

Active IE is associated with high perioperative mortality especially with multivalve and aortic root involvement. Preoperative stroke has no impact on perioperative mortality. Long-term survival for those who survived the immediate postoperative period is satisfactory, and mechanical valves are associated with the best long-term survival.