The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 1982
Cardiac operation during active infective endocarditis: results of aortic, mitral, and double valve replacement in 94 patients.
Cardiac valve replacement was performed in 94 patients (95 operations) in the presence of active infective endocarditis. Most of the patients were extremely ill. The operation was performed as an emergency or semiemergency lifesaving procedure in 88% of them, and more than half received little or no antibiotic treatment prior to the operation. ⋯ In seven of the eight deaths, the cause of death was probably not related to the timing of the original operation. We recommend early valve replacement for patients with infective endocarditis. We believe that early operation reduces mortality, prevents emboli, and is associated with excellent long-term results.