[57 cases of infectious endocarditis: diagnosis, clinical course, prognostic factors]

Through a retrospective study on 57 patients, the authors have studied the diagnosis signs, the clinical course, and the factors which affect the prognosis of bacterial endocarditis. Echocardiography has allowed them to establish a diagnosis with 72 p.c. of cases and the bacteriological investigations with 42 p.c. Out of these endocarditides, 39 were found on natural valves, 6 were associated with congenital cardiopathies, 9 followed the replacement of a valvula, and 3 were associated with endomyocardial fibrosis. Cardiac insufficiency (56 p.c.), and renal insufficiency (24 p.c.) were prevailing. The discussion turns on the diagnosis factors and the factors involved in the prognosis. Considering that the death rates were 64 p.c. with the patients who had undergone medical treatment and 14 p.c. with those who had undergone operations, the relevance of the surgical treatment has been emphasized.