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Standardized Technique of Aortic Valve Re-implantation for Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement
Published on: December 11, 2017
Survival following aortic valve surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis: a SWEDEHEART study
Lisa Bearpark1,2, Michael Dismorr3,2, Anders Franco-Cereceda3,4
1Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden lisa.bearpark@ki.se.
Heart (British Cardiac Society)
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Patients undergoing aortic valve surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) face higher short-term mortality. However, long-term survival is similar to native valve endocarditis (NVE) patients who survive the initial 30 days.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication affecting up to 10% of patients with prosthetic valves.
- Cardiac surgery is often necessary for PVE, but outcomes data are limited.
- This study examines outcomes following aortic valve surgery for PVE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of aortic valve surgery in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE).
- To compare the long-term survival of PVE patients with those undergoing surgery for native valve endocarditis (NVE).
Main Methods:
- Population-based observational cohort study using Swedish national health registries (1997-2022).
- Included all patients undergoing aortic valve surgery for endocarditis.
- Kaplan-Meier method and regression standardization used for survival analysis, comparing PVE and NVE patients surviving >30 days post-surgery.
Main Results:
- 2585 patients included: 685 (26%) with PVE and 1900 (74%) with NVE.
- PVE patients were older and had more comorbidities.
- 30-day mortality was higher in PVE (12%) vs. NVE (6.1%) patients (aOR 1.76).
- Long-term survival (10-year) was similar between PVE and NVE patients who survived >30 days (absolute difference -4.6%).
Conclusions:
- Aortic valve surgery for PVE is associated with increased short-term mortality.
- Patients surviving 30 days post-surgery for PVE have a comparable 10-year prognosis to NVE patients.
- Good long-term outcomes are achievable for PVE patients undergoing aortic valve surgery.
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