Early valve replacement in active infective endocarditis. Results and late survival

In the past 14 years, 42 patients with active infective endocarditis underwent early valve replacement for severe congestive heart failure, major prosthetic dehiscence, intramyocardial abscesses, sepsis, or major embolization. Blood cultures were positive in 40 patients and the valve tissues were positive in two others. All patients received antimicrobials for from 1 to 4 weeks. Drug addiction was noted in 24%, urinary tract manipulation in 7%, dental work in 5%, contaminated prosthesis in 2%, and unknown cause in 62%. Organisms were predominantly staphylococcal (43%) and streptococcal (41%); the remainder were gram-negative (9%) or fungal (7%). The aortic valve was involved in 72%, mitral in 14%, tricuspid in 7%, and both aortic and mitral in 7%. By the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, 90% (38/42) were in Class III or IV. Operative mortality was 10% (4/42) and all four patients had preexisting renal failure necessitating dialysis. No predominant organism correlated with early deaths. In aortic valve replacement (30 patients), operative mortality was 7%. Postoperatively, 95% (35/37) were Class I or II with one lost to follow-up. Subsequent reoperation was required in five patients (13%) for recurrent endocarditis, with an operative mortality of 20% (1/5). Late death occurred in 45% (17/38). Overall probability of survival was 0.53 at 5 years. For isolated aortic valve involvement, the 5 year survival was 0.58. Survival for native valve involvement was 0.58 and for prosthetic endocarditis, 0.55. This study shows that after at least 1 week of antibiotics, early operation in patients with active endocarditis has an acceptable operative mortality. Clinical improvement is excellent in 95% and more than half survived 5 years or longer.