Active Endocarditis Research Articles

Positron emission tomography in patients with suspected pacing system infections may play a critical role in difficult cases

A pacemaker recipient may be hospitalized recurrently with an infection of unknown origin despite detailed investigations. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scanning has a role in identifying pacing material infection in these difficult cases. Ten patients who presented with fever of unknown origin despite detailed investigations including transesophageal echocardiography underwent FDG-PET/CT scanning. Identification of increased FDG uptake along a pacing lead prompted the removal of the entire pacing system, whereas in the absence of increased FDG uptake the pacing material was left in place. Forty control pacemaker recipients underwent FDG-PET/CT scanning as part of investigation of malignancy. Among the 40 patients in the control group, FDG-PET/CT scanning was normal in 37 (92.5%) patients. Among the 10 patients who presented with suspected pacing system infections, FDG-PET/CT scanning showed increased FDG uptake along a lead in six patients; as a result of this finding, these patients subsequently underwent complete removal of the implanted material. Cultures of the leads were positive in all six patients, confirming involvement of the leads in the infectious process. In the other four patients, the pacing system was left in place without objective signs of active lead endocarditis during follow-up. This study demonstrates the potential value of FDG-PET/CT scanning in the diagnosis of pacing lead endocarditis in difficult cases. Increased FDG uptake along a lead in this clinical context appears to be a reliable sign of active infection.

Re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta: results and predictors of short- and long-term mortality in a series of 174 patients

The aim of this study was to report results and to identify predictors of hospital and long-term mortality in patients undergoing re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta. Between 1986 and 2009,174 re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta after previous aortic surgery were performed in our Institution. The patients' mean age was 58 years, 132 (75.9%) were men. The mean time from last operation was 9.9 years. An urgent operation was performed in 35 (20.1%) patients. Indications for surgery included degenerative and chronic post-dissection aneurysm (n=133), acute dissection (n=8), false aneurysm (n=22), and active prosthetic infection (n=11). Root procedures were performed in 65 (37.3%) patients, ascending aorta replacement in 27 (15.5%), different extents of aortic arch replacement in 39 (22.4%), and root, ascending aorta and arch replacement in 43 (24.7%). Hospital mortality was 12.6%. On multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (odds ratio (OR)=1.1018 per min), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV (OR=3.86), and active endocarditis (OR=5.15) emerged as independent predictors of hospital mortality. Mean follow-up time was 56 months. The estimated 1-, 5-, and 10 years' survival were 81.6%, 74.2%, and 44.5%, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, age (hazard ratio (HR)=1.037 per year) and CPB time (HR=1.010 per min) emerged as independent risk factors of late mortality. Short- and long-term survival was satisfactory being excellent in patients with degenerative aneurysms and dismal in those with active endocarditis. Extensive aortic resections did not increase hospital mortality and were associated with a reduced need for aortic re-interventions. CPB time remains the most important risk factor for reduced survival in aortic surgery.

Implantation of nitinol self-expanding carotid stent to release circumflex artery compression caused by mitral valve prosthesis

A 31-year-old female was admitted to the Cardiosurgery Department, Medical University of Gdansk, with symptoms of congestive heart failure. The patient underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with homograft due to severe aortic insufficiency after inflammatory process 12 years previously. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic homograft regurgitation (AR). Left ventricle (LV) was enlarged and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 50%. Aortic valve replacement was postponed due to active endocarditis. Two weeks later, control transoesophageal echocardiography showed severe AR and new vegetations on mitral valve leaflets with torrential regurgitation, increased systolic right ventricle pressure to 55 mmHg, and decreased LVEF to 30%. Two weeks after changing the antibiotic …

Improved results of surgically treated aortic valve endocarditis using a stentless valve

Objective: Surgical treatment of active aortic endocarditis is still accompanied by a high mortality rate and a high rate of recurrence. We tested our results with a stentless valve, requiring only a single supra-annular suture line for insertion, in a high risk patient group.

Positive cultures from cardiopulmonary bypass: prevalence and relevance regarding postoperative infection

Postoperative infections due to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The value of positive cultures taken from CPB priming fluid and CPB blood samples, however, is unclear. This study investigates the epidemiology of positive cultures from CPB and their relation to the occurrence of postoperative infection. The study was conducted at the Maastricht University Medical Centre, a 715-bed teaching hospital with 900-1000 surgeries requiring CPB annually. From 1 January 1998 until 31 March 2010, all patients with positive CPB cultures drawn either from priming fluid or blood were retrospectively studied. Second, 335 patients with a positive CPB culture were compared with 335 randomly assigned patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery using CPB and had negative CPB cultures. Patients with active endocarditis were excluded. Demographic data and perioperative parameters were documented. Outcome measures were: a relevant infection (acute infectious valve endocarditis, wound infection, intravascular catheter-related infection, and bloodstream infection), occurrence of fever of unknown origin, and 30-day mortality. A total of 21840 cultures were analyzed, half being priming fluid and half CPB blood cultures. As many as 111 out of 10920 (1.0%) priming fluid cultures and 598 out of 10920 (5.6%) blood cultures tested positive. Gram-positive cocci predominated both priming fluid and blood cultures. Relevant postoperative infections within 30 days after surgery were seen in 47/663 (7.1%) of patients overall, in 27/330 in the CPB-culture-positive group (8.2%) and 20/333 in the CPB-culture-negative group (6.0%), p=0.275. As many as 38 out of 363 patients (5.7%) were affected by fever of unknown origin (CPB-culture-positive group 4.5%, and CPB-culture-negative 6.9%; p=0.191). The 30-day mortality was 16/330 (4.8%) in the CPB-culture-positive group and 13/333 (3.9%) in the CPB-culture-negative group (p=0.552). Positive cultures from both CPB priming fluid and CPB blood samples were not a rarity and mainly involved skin bacteria, arguing that contamination may have played a role. The risk of postoperative infection within 30 days after surgery was not increased in CPB-culture-positive patients. Therefore, no evidence was found to support routine culturing of CPB samples in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.

Factors associated with surgery for active endocarditis in congenital heart disease

BackgroundDespite the recent progress of cardiac surgery, the indications for surgical intervention during the active phase of infective endocarditis have not yet been established in patients with congenital heart diseases due to the limited number of such patients. The present study aims to determine the surgical indications for active infective endocarditis in congenital heart diseases. MethodsA retrospective observational cohort multi-center study on infective endocarditis with congenital heart diseases was conducted from January 1997 to December 2001 in Japan and 239 patients were registered. Sixty-one (26%) of the 239 patients had undergone surgical therapy for active infective endocarditis, which was defined as cardiac surgery during administration of intravenous antibiotics. ResultsThere were 7 deaths (11%). A univariate regression analysis revealed that the factors significantly associated with the need for surgical intervention for active IE were the lack of diagnosis of cardiac disorders before the onset of infective endocarditis, aortic valve infective endocarditis, perivalvular abscess, presence of heart failure, and change of antibiotics. A stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of a perivalvular abscess, heart failure and a change in the antibiotics were independent determinant factors for the need for surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis in patients with congenital heart diseases. ConclusionsSurgery should therefore be considered even during the active phase in patients with congenital heart diseases and infective endocarditis, when they develop associated with heart failure, a perivalvular abscess, or the need for a change in antibiotics.

Outcomes for endocarditis surgery in North America: A simplified risk scoring system

Operation for infective endocarditis is associated with the highest mortality of any valve disease, with overall rates of in-hospital mortality exceeding 20%. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was examined to develop a simple risk scoring system and identify areas for quality improvement. From 2002 through 2008, 19,543 operations were performed for infective endocarditis. Logistic regression analysis related baseline characteristics to both operative mortality and a composite of mortality and major morbidity within 30 days. Points were assigned to each risk factor, and estimated risk was obtained by averaging events for all patients having the same number of points. Overall unadjusted mortality was 8.2%, and complications occurred in 53%. Significant preoperative risk factors for mortality (associated points) were as follows: emergency, salvage status, or cardiogenic shock (17), preoperative hemodialysis, renal failure, or creatinine level less than 2.0 (12), preoperative inotropic or balloon pump support (10), active (vs treated) endocarditis (10), multiple valve involvement (9), insulin-dependent diabetes (8), arrhythmia (8), previous cardiac surgery (7), urgent status without cardiogenic shock (6), non-insulin-dependent diabetes (6), hypertension (5), and chronic lung disease (5), with a C statistic of 0.7578 (all P < .001). Risk-adjusted mortality and major morbidity were unchanged over the course of the study. In the entire data set, mortality was better if "any valve" was repaired (odds ratio = 0.76; P = .0023). Operative mortality for surgically treated infective endocarditis is substantially lower than reported in-hospital mortality rates for infective endocarditis. The described risk scoring system will inform clinical decision-making in these complex patients.

EuroSCORE e mortalidade em cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica no Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco

The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of EuroSCORE in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery at the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pernambuco Cardiologic Emergency Medical Services--PROCAPE. A retrospective study involving 500 patients operated between May 2007 and April 2010. The registers contained all the information used to calculate the EuroSCORE. The outcome of interest was death. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis by backward logistic regression were applied to assess the association between each variable in the EuroSCORE and deaths. The following parameters were calculated: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The power of concordance between the predicted mortality by the EuroSCORE and the observed mortality was measured using the Kappa coefficient. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve. The incidence of death was 13%. In multivariate analysis, nine variables remained independent predictors of death: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, creatinine >2,3mg/dL, active endocarditis, preoperative critical state, unstable angina, ejection fraction 30% to 50%, acute myocardial infarction < 90 days, emergency surgery and additional surgery. The score had a sensitivity of 88.4%, specificity of 79.3%, positive predictive value of 40.7%, negative predictive value of 97.7% and 80.6% concordance. The accuracy measured by the area under the ROC curve was 0.892 (95% CI 0.862-0.922). The EuroSCORE proved to be a simple and objective index, revealing a satisfactory discriminator of postoperative evolution in patients undergoing CABG surgery at our institution.

Surgical treatment of rheumatic heart disease complicated with active fungal endocarditis: a case report

Surgical treatment of rheumatic heart disease complicated with active fungal endocarditis: a case report

Predictors of Mitral Valve Repair: Clinical and Surgeon Factors

Mitral valve repair is acknowledged as desirable and superior to replacement for virtually all mitral pathology. Utilizing The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), a multivariable model was created that included patient clinical characteristics and surgeon-specific mitral volume to predict the likelihood of mitral valve repair. Between January 2005 and December 2007, 28,507 patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery (with or without tricuspid valve surgery, with or without atrial fibrillation surgery) by 1,088 surgeons at 639 hospitals in the STS ACSD were identified. Patient characteristics independently associated with mitral valve repair were identified using a generalized estimating equations logistic regression model. Observed mitral valve repair rates were plotted against surgeon-specific annual mitral volume, and predicted probabilities of mitral repair by surgeon volume were calculated after adjusting for patient baseline covariates. On average, patients undergoing mitral valve surgery were 62 years old, with 51% female and 82% Caucasian. Among surgeons performing mitral procedures, the mean rate of mitral valve repair was 41% (range, 0% to 100%) and the median number of mitral valve operations per year was 5 (range, 1 to 166). Several patient characteristics were independently associated with a decreased odds of mitral repair (versus replacement), including mitral stenosis (odds ratio 0.09; 95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.11) and active endocarditis (odds ratio 0.21; 95% confidence interval: 0.17 to 0.25). While substantial variability in repair rates was observed among low-volume surgeons, increased surgeon-level mitral volume was independently associated with an increased probability of mitral repair. This analysis demonstrates marked variability in the frequency of mitral valve repair, and the influence of both patient- and surgeon-level factors on the likelihood of mitral valve repair. Increasing surgeon-specific annual mitral valve volume is associated with a higher probability of mitral repair. Identification of these predictors of mitral valve repair creates substantial opportunity for quality improvement in patient outcomes in mitral valve surgery, potentially through education, adoption of best practices, and improved mitral repair enabling technology.

Letter by Miceli et al Regarding Article, “No Major Differences in 30-Day Outcomes in High-Risk Patients Randomized to Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery: The Best Bypass Surgery Trial”

HomeCirculationVol. 122, No. 17Letter by Miceli et al Regarding Article, “No Major Differences in 30-Day Outcomes in High-Risk Patients Randomized to Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery: The Best Bypass Surgery Trial” Free AccessLetterPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessLetterPDF/EPUBLetter by Miceli et al Regarding Article, “No Major Differences in 30-Day Outcomes in High-Risk Patients Randomized to Off-Pump Versus On-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery: The Best Bypass Surgery Trial” Antonio Miceli, MD, Mattia Glauber, MD and Gianni D. Angelini, MD, MCh, FRCS Antonio MiceliAntonio Miceli Search for more papers by this author , Mattia GlauberMattia Glauber Search for more papers by this author and Gianni D. AngeliniGianni D. Angelini Search for more papers by this author Originally published26 Oct 2010https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.944520Circulation. 2010;122:e497To the Editor:The results of the Best Bypass Surgery Trial (BBS), performed on 341 high-risk patients (European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation [EuroSCORE] >5) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with (on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery) or without (off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery) cardiopulmonary bypass, report no significant differences in the composite of adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events or in any of the following outcomes: All-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, low cardiac output/cardiogenic shock, stroke, and coronary reintervention.1 However, in our opinion, the definition of high-risk patient should be interpreted carefully. Although the EuroSCORE identifies patients with a score >6 as high risk,2 the score is based on 18 independent variables, many of which were not considered in the study. Risk factors such as previous cardiac surgery, critical preoperative state, emergency operation, and poor left ventricular dysfunction were excluded. Furthermore, active endocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, other than isolated coronary artery bypass surgery, surgery on the thoracic aorta, and postinfarction septal rupture were not considered in the study because of the nature of the study. Chronic pulmonary disease and neurological dysfunction were not defined according to EuroSCORE, and there is no information on patients with unstable angina. Finally, it has been shown that the ability of the EuroSCORE to predict mortality is reduced in high-risk patients.3 Indeed, Puskas et al,4 using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' predicted risk of mortality on 14 776 patients undergoing coronary surgery, showed that off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery disproportionately benefited high-risk patients.Antonio Miceli, MDMattia Glauber, MD Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana Massa, ItalyGianni D. Angelini, MD, MCh, FRCS Bristol Heart Institute University of Bristol Bristol, United KingdomDisclosuresNone.

Outcome Evaluation of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery Applying the EuroSCORE in a Caribbean Developing Country

The risk-adjusted outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Trinidad and Tobago was evaluated by applying the EuroSCORE scoring system. A retrospective study was undertaken by reviewing the case notes of patients who underwent CABG from 2003 to 2008 under Caribbean Heart Care. Data collected included age, sex, smoking status, comorbidities, chronic pulmonary disease, extracardiac arteriopathy, neurologic disease, previous cardiac surgery, serum creatinine, active endocarditis, critical preoperative state, and mode of surgery. Predicted mortality was calculated with the EuroSCORE, the model was calibrated by Hosmer-Lemeshow analysis, and the discriminant function was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We studied 1082 patients who underwent CABG, 75.6% of whom were of Asian Indian ethnicity. The overall mean (±SD) EuroSCORE was 2.87 ± 2.1. The predicted perioperative mortality rate was 2.3%, and the observed mortality rate was 1.2%. The overall standardized mortality ratio was 0.52. Eighty-six percent of the patients underwent off-pump CABG. Hosmer-Lemeshow analysis showed that the system calibrated well to our case mix (Hosmer-Lemeshow value, 6.87; degrees of freedom, 8; P = .551). The EuroSCORE discriminated patient outcomes well, as shown by the area under the ROC curve (0.78). Age and ethnicity did not influence the outcome. The outcomes of CABG surgery patients are good in Trinidad and Tobago and are comparable to standards in developed countries when evaluated with the EuroSCORE. The proportion of patients undergoing off-pump CABG is high.

In patients with severe active aortic valve endocarditis, is a stentless valve as good as the homograft?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'In patients with severe active aortic valve endocarditis, is a stentless valve as good as a homograft?' The scientific literature was reviewed by searching Medline, using the OVID interface, from 1950 to March 2010. One hundred and eight papers were found. Twelve papers were used in the writing of the article, of which 10 were deemed relevant to the topic. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, and results of these papers were tabulated. In the homograft series, literature review reports a reinfection rate from 3.8% to 6.8%. Yankah, in studying 161 patients with endocarditis, reports 91% freedom from reinfection at 10 and 17 years and 70% survival at 17-year follow-up. Sabik, in studying 103 consecutive patients with prosthetic endocarditis, reports a 3.8% reinfection rate and 95% freedom from reinfection at 10 years, with 56% survival at 10 year. In the stentless series: Musci, in studying 255 patients with endocarditis, reports a 8.6% reinfection rate, 83% freedom from reinfection at five years and 46% five-year survival. He finds a non-significant difference between survival and freedom from reinfection in patients with native valve endocarditis compared to those with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) (P=0.1371 and P=0.8356). The same author, in 221 patients treated with a homograft, reports a 5.4% reinfection rate and 10-year freedom from reoperation, with a reinfection rate in native and PVE of 92%. Ten-year survival was better in native than in PVE (P=0.029). Siniawski, comparing two groups of patients treated with stentless valves and homografts, finds an equal reinfection rate of 4% and lower mortality for the stentless group (12% vs. 16%, respectively). He finds the reinfection rate to be lower for the homograft and stentless groups than for the patients treated with standard prostheses, respectively, 5.8%, 3.7% and 33%. The stentless valve offers a reinfection rate and postoperative echocardiographic data comparable to those achieved with homografts. Further follow-up is required to determine the stentless valve durability and long-term freedom from valve-related complications.

Thrombocytopenia After Aortic Valve Replacement With Freedom Solo Bioprosthesis: A Propensity Study

The incidence of postoperative thrombocytopenia after aortic valve replacement with the Freedom Solo bioprosthesis remains unclear. This propensity-matched study was carried out to evaluate the incidence and clinical impact of thrombocytopenia in patients receiving the Freedom Solo bioprosthesis. Patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with a Freedom Solo or Carpentier-Edwards Perimount pericardial prosthesis at our institution between 2006 and 2008 were screened retrospectively. Exclusion criteria included double valve replacement, redo surgery, and active endocarditis. Two hundred six patients were considered eligible for this analysis. Using propensity scores 36 matched pairs of patients with a Freedom Solo or Perimount bioprosthesis were obtained. The primary end point was the occurrence of postoperative thrombocytopenia. Secondary end points were postoperative thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events and 30-day mortality. Before matching, severe thrombocytopenia (<30 x 10(9) platelets/L) occurred in 22% of patients with a Freedom Solo bioprosthesis and 1% with a Perimount bioprosthesis (p < 0.0001), thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events occurred in 3% and 2%, respectively (p = 0.37), and 30-day mortality was 4% and 6%, respectively (p = 0.48). Multivariate analysis identified preoperative platelet count (p = 0.01) and Freedom Solo (p < 0.0001) as independent risk factors for severe postoperative thrombocytopenia. After matching, severe thrombocytopenia occurred in 25% and 3% of patients with Freedom Solo and Perimount bioprostheses, respectively (p < 0.0001), thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events occurred in 0%, and 30-day mortality was 3% and 6%, respectively (p = 0.99). The risk of thrombocytopenia was high after Freedom Solo implantation. However, this complication was not related to any deleterious events in our study population.

Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Paravalvular Abscess: A Surgical Challenge. An 11-Year Single Center Experience

To evaluate the impact of paravalvular abscess in the surgical management and outcome of infective endocarditis. Retrospective review of 35 patients with paravalvular abscess due to active endocarditis operated on at 1 institution from September 1996-August 2007. Patients' mean age was 59.4 +/- 12.1 years; 80% were men. 31 patients suffered from native- and 4 from prosthetic valve endocarditis. In 23 cases the affected valve was the aortic, in 7 cases the mitral, in 4 cases both (mitral and aortic), and in 1 patient the tricuspid; no abscess presence was noticed by pulmonal annuluses. Surgical procedures included radical lesion-resection as well as reconstruction of the annulus with pericardial patches. Most of the patients were preoperatively in New York Heart Association (NYHA)-class III-IV. Follow-up was 100% complete with a maximum of 11.25 years. Early mortality (30 days) was 11.4% (n = 4). The 11-year overall survival rate was 68.7 +/- 9% (76.1% for aortic valve patients and 26.9% for mitral valve patients (P = .15). With regard to the type of prosthetic devices, the survival rates at 11.25 years were 74.2% for mechanical, 80% for biological, and 45.6% for other/reconstructive (P = .6). There were no episodes of recurrent endocarditis; hence freedom of recurrent endocarditis at 11 years was 100%. Causative microorganisms were approximately 30% Staphylococci, and MRSA seems to induce more frequent destructive lesions like paravalvular abscess. Considering the severity of the onset, a radical surgical treatment delivers acceptable long-term results by acceptable operative mortality. The choice of the prosthetic device seems not to be influential in long-term survival and morbidity.

Primary isolated aortic valve surgery in octogenarians

We reviewed our surgery registry, to identify predictive risk factors for operative results, and to analyse the long-term survival outcome in octogenarians operated for primary isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). A total of 124 consecutive octogenarians underwent open AVR from January 1990 to December 2005. Combined procedures and redo surgery were excluded. Selected variables were studied as risk factors for hospital mortality and early neurological events. A follow-up (FU; mean FU time: 77 months) was obtained (90% complete), and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to determine survival rates. The mean age was 82+/-2.2 (range: 80-90 years; 63% females). Of the group, four patients (3%) required urgent procedures, 10 (8%) had a previous myocardial infarction, six (5%) had a previous coronary angioplasty and stenting, 13 patients (10%) suffered from angina and 59 (48%) were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV. We identified 114 (92%) degenerative stenosis, six (5%) post-rheumatic stenosis and four (3%) active endocarditis. The predicted mortality calculated by logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was 12.6+/-5.7%, and the observed hospital mortality was 5.6%. Causes of death included severe cardiac failure (four patients), multi-organ failure (two) and sepsis (one). Complications were transitory neurological events in three patients (2%), short-term haemodialysis in three (2%), atrial fibrillation in 60 (48%) and six patients were re-operated for bleeding. Atrio-ventricular block, myocardial infarction or permanent stroke was not detected. The age at surgery and the postoperative renal failure were predictors for hospital mortality (p value <0.05), whereas we did not find predictors for neurological events. The mean FU time was 77 months (6.5 years) and the mean age of surviving patients was 87+/-4 years (81-95 years). The actuarial survival estimates at 5 and 10 years were 88% and 50%, respectively. Our experience shows good short-term results after primary isolated standard AVR in patients more than 80 years of age. The FU suggests that aortic valve surgery in octogenarians guarantees satisfactory long-term survival rates and a good quality of life, free from cardiac re-operations. In the era of catheter-based aortic valve implantation, open-heart surgery for AVR remains the standard of care for healthy octogenarians.

Avaliação do EuroSCORE como preditor de mortalidade em cirurgia cardíaca valvar no Instituto do Coração de Pernambuco

To assess the applicability of the European Risk System in Cardiac Operations (EuroSCORE) in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery at the Heart Institute of Pernambuco. 840 patients operated on between 2001 and 2009, who medical records contained all the informations to calculate the EuroSCORE were included in the study. Hospital death was the end-point of the study. In order to assess the applicability of the EuroSCORE it was used the non parametric test of Mann-Whitney. The calibration of the model was measured by comparing the morbidity observed with that expected, using the Hosmer-Lemeshow Test of Goodness of Fit. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by the ROC curve (receiver operating characteristic curve). The comparison of expected and observed mortality, by Hosmer-Lemershow test, showed good predictive capacity (P = 0.767) as well as when compared to each value of addictive EuroSCORE (P = 0,455). The area of ROC curve was 0.731 (IC 95%, 0.660 - 0.793) with P < 0.001. The global predicted mortality was practically identical to that observed (7.9%). The low-risk group (EuroSCORE 0-2) comprised 345 patients with a mortality of 3.19%. The medium-risk group (EuroSCORE 3-5) comprised 364 patients, with a mortality of 7.69% and the high-risk group (EuroSCORE > 6) included 131 patients, with a mortality of 20.6%. The regression logistic analyses allowed to identify the following risk-factors for death: age > 60 years, gender female, previous operation, active endocarditis, associated surgery of the thoracic aorta and extra-cardiac arteriopathy. The EuroSCORE, a simple and objective method, proved to be a satisfactory predictor of operative mortality and risk factors for death in patients submitted to valve cardiac operations in the Heart Institute of Pernambuco.

Preoperative Evaluation in Aortic Endocarditis: Findings on Cardiac CT

The purpose of this study was to study the feasibility and diagnostic capability of preoperative cardiac CT for depicting aortic valvular pseudoaneurysms and vegetations in patients referred for aortic endocarditis requiring surgical intervention. Consecutive patients presenting with active aortic endocarditis requiring surgical intervention were included. CT scan examinations were performed for assessing coronary artery status. Aortic valves were retrospectively analyzed. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were retrospectively gated to the ECG and obtained without the administration of a beta-blocker. The CT and intraoperative findings were systematically compared. During a 4-year period, 19 consecutive patients (18 men and one woman) were included (mean age +/- SD, 55 +/- 13 years). Results are expressed on a per-patient basis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MDCT in depicting aortic valve pseudoaneurysms were 100%, 87.5%, 91.7%, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the MDCT in depicting the extension of the aortic valve pseudoaneurysms into the intervalvular fibrous body were each 100%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MDCT in depicting aortic valve vegetations were 71.4%, 100%, 100%, and 55.5%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MDCT for depicting aortic valve vegetations larger than 1 cm were all 100%. Our study shows the feasibility of preoperative CT in aortic infective endocarditis for providing relevant data about the presence and relationships of aortic valvular pseudoaneurysms. A larger prospective study including a systematic comparison with transesophageal echocardiography should be performed to determine the respective value of each technique.

Fibrous skeleton endocarditis causing septated aneurysm on the anterior mitral leaflet

A 26-year-old male was diagnosed to active aortic valve endocarditis extending the fibrous skeleton, caused by Streptococcus sanguinis . A transthoracic echocardiography showed multiple, highly mobile vegetations on all three cusps of the aortic valve with mild-to-moderate aortic regurgitation and a 2.7 × 1.2 cm-sized septated aneurysm on the anterior mitral leaflet with moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation ( Panels A – C ). On emergent surgery, a septated …

Aortic valve replacement for active endocarditis: early outcome after implantation of the stentless Sorin Freedom Solo bioprosthesis

Background: Surgery for aortic valve endocarditis (AVE) is still challenging, particularly if the implantation of a stented valve is technically not feasible. Due to limited homograft availability, alternative implants are investigated. The bovine stentless Sorin Freedom Solo valve (Solo) is supraanularly implanted into the aortic wall with a single-suture-line without requiring an „intact“ annulus.