Role of surgery in infective endocarditis

The thrust of the surgical literature at present and over the past 10 years has emphasized that early operation based on hemodynamic considerations and to some extent on the infecting organism offer a very reasonable outlook to the patient for hospital survival and long-term survival. However, as in all valvular heart disease, consideration of the risk of an indwelling prosthetic device and all its attendant complications must enter into decision making as to appropriateness and timing of operation.