Korean Circ J.  1984 Jun;14(1):29-36. 10.4070/kcj.1984.14.1.29.

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

• Ryu WS
• Kim CH
• Kim JH
• Lee MM
• Park YB
• Choi YS
• Seo JD
• Lee YW
• Seo KP

• KMID: 2229810
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1984.14.1.29

Abstract

Prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE) is not infrequent and one of the serious complications of cardiac valve replacement despite advances in antimicrobial therapy, diagnostic techniquens and surgical procedures. Although the incidence of PVE may be declining, the absolute number of cases of this infection is increasing. In patients with a prosthetic valve, fever, a regurgitant heart murmur, peripheral manifestations of infective endocarditis and postitive blood cultures, the diagnosis of PVE is evident. We have reviewed our experience with 13 patients with PVE from October 1976 through August 1983. During this period valve replacements were performed in 686 patients, with an infection rate of 1.9%. PVE currently accounts for approximately 14% of the total number of cases of infective endocarditis seen at Seoul national University Hospital. PVE occurred more often after multiple valve replacement than after replacement of single valve alone. Blood cultures were positive in 69% cases of PVE. Systemic emboli could be seen in 54% of patients with PVE and overall mortality was about 23%.

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Endocarditis*
Fever
Heart Murmurs
Heart Valves
Humans
Incidence
Mortality
Seoul