International Survey on Perioperative Management of Patients With Infective Endocarditis

To estimate the current practice in the perioperative management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery due to infective endocarditis.

A prospective, open, 24-item, web-based cross-sectional survey.

Online survey endorsed by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC).

Members of the EACTAIC.

None.

A total of 156 responses from 44 countries were received, with a completion rate of 99%. The response rate was 16.6%. Most respondents (76%) practiced cardiac anesthesia in European hospitals, and most respondents stated that a multidisciplinary endocarditis team was not established at their center, that cardiac anesthesiologists appeared to be involved infrequently in those teams (36%), and that they were not involved in decision-making on indication and timing of surgery (88%). In contrast, the cardiac anesthesiologist performed intraoperative antibiotic therapy (62%) and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (90%). Furthermore, there was a relative heterogeneity concerning perioperative monitoring, as well as for coagulation and transfusion management.

This international survey evaluated current practice among cardiac anesthesiologists in the perioperative management of patients with infective endocarditis and the anesthesiologist's role in multidisciplinary decision-making. Heterogeneity in treatment approaches was identified, indicating relevant knowledge gaps that should encourage further clinical research to optimize treatment and postoperative outcomes in this specific population.