[Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis]

Since 1975 to 1979 24 patients affected by acute infective endocarditis were operated of valvular replacement. All patients presented increasing cardiac failure unresponsive to medical treatment; 48% of the cases had positive blood culture. In 5 patients the infective endocarditis occurred on previously implanted prosthetic valve. Surgical findings consisted in rupture of chordae tendineae, vegetation ad perforation of valvular cusps. Prosthetic valvular replacement was performed in all cases using mechanical valve (22) or porcine heterograft 85). Surgical mortality was 8,3%, while late mortality occurred on 12.5% of cases. The diagnostic considerations, concerning this disease, the surgical results and long term management are discussed.