BACKGROUND: Operation for @entity697 during the active phase violates a basic surgical rule not to implant a foreign body into an infective process, resulting in a high operative mortality and the risk of early recurrent @entity884 . Several investigators analyzing risk factors for perioperative mortality and morbidity presented strategies for more favorable outcomes, but most studies suffer from the drawback of heterogeneous populations observed over a long period of time. METHODS: We present a prospective study on 138 @entity1 operated on from March 1988 to March 1996. @entity1 were only included if the activity of the infection was proved by positive culture of the valve leaflets or by histologic staining. During the observation period, indication for operation, surgical approach, and postoperative antibiotic therapy were standardized as much as possible. After radical debridement of all parts of infected tissue, valve replacement was carried out with mechanical prostheses. RESULTS: The early mortality was 11.5% overall. High New York Heart Association functional classification, advanced age, and staphylococcal disease were significant risk factors for early mortality. The site of infection, multiple valve involvement, and @entity340 did not affect the outcome. Early recurrent @entity884 was recorded in only 3 @entity1 of the entire series. CONCLUSIONS: In case of @entity884 , valve replacement with mechanical prostheses is a safe procedure, if radical operation and aggressive postoperative antibiotic therapy are performed. For further improvements of the results, earlier operation is advisable in @entity1 with rapidly progressive @entity299 and in most cases of @entity884 .

Operation for XXXX : results after implantation of mechanical valves.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity697 :: ('MESH:D000208', 'Disease') :: ['acute endocarditis'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac deterioration'] @entity340 :: ('MESH:D006349', 'Disease') :: ['prosthetic valve endocarditis'] @entity884 :: ('MESH:D004696', 'Disease') :: ['acute infective endocarditis', 'endocarditis', 'staphylococcal endocarditis']
@entity884 :: (MESH:D004696,Disease) :: ['infective endocarditis']
