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Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement from Autologous Pericardium with a Self-Expandable Nitinol Stent in an Adult Sheep Model
Published on: June 8, 2022
Outcomes of Treatment for Infective Endocarditis Following Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
J Chancellor Fox1,2, Horacio G Carvajal1,2, Fei Wan3
1Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 12275Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Insights
Infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) can lead to relapses with medical therapy alone. Surgery appears most effective for IE treatment, though associated mortality is higher in this TPVR patient group.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) recipients face an elevated risk of infective endocarditis (IE).
- Limited data exist on managing IE post-TPVR, especially regarding surgical interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate outcomes of different management strategies for IE in patients who have undergone TPVR.
- To compare the effectiveness and complications of surgical versus medical-only therapy for IE after TPVR.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System database (2010-2020) was conducted.
- Identified IE cases post-TPVR, detailing demographics, hospital course, complications, and treatment outcomes.
- Compared outcomes based on initial surgical or medical-only therapy.
Main Results:
- Sixty-nine IE cases were identified, with 29% experiencing IE-related readmissions.
- Initial medical therapy alone resulted in a 33% relapse rate.
- Surgical intervention rates were 22% initially and 36% overall; surgery was more common with subsequent admissions.
- Renal and respiratory failure were more frequent in the initial surgery group. Overall mortality was 4.3%, with 8% in the surgical cohort.
Conclusions:
- Initial medical therapy for IE post-TPVR may lead to relapses and delayed surgical treatment.
- Surgical intervention appears most effective for IE treatment, despite higher associated mortality.
- More aggressive medical therapy might be needed for patients treated non-surgically to prevent relapse.
Background:
Recipients of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) have shown increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE). Little is known about the outcomes of different management strategies, particularly surgery, for IE after TPVR.
Methods:
We queried the Pediatric Health Information System database for cases of IE after TPVR performed from 2010-2020. We described patient demographics, hospital courses, admission complications, and treatment outcomes based on therapy offered, surgical or medical only. We compared outcomes of initial therapy. Data are expressed as median or percent.
Results:
Sixty-nine cases of IE were identified, accounting for 98 related hospital admissions; 29% of patients recorded IE-related readmissions. Of those readmitted after initial medical therapy only, 33% had relapse IE. Rates of surgery were 22% during initial admission and 36% overall. Likelihood of surgical intervention increased with each subsequent admission. Renal and respiratory failure were more common in those given initial surgery. Mortality rate was 4.3% overall and 8% in the surgical cohort.
Conclusion:
Initial medical therapy may result in relapses/readmissions and possible delay of surgical therapy, which appears to be most effective for treatment of IE. For those treated only medically, a more aggressive course of therapy may be more likely to prevent relapse. Mortality following surgical therapy for IE after TPVR appears higher than reported for surgical pulmonary valve replacement generally.
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