Prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis is an infrequent but serious complication of valve surgery. It occurred in 25 (3.2%) of 772 patients who received aortic, mitral or double valve replacement in 1971-1987.

Early and late results of aortic valve replacement. A series of 510 patients.

Aortic valve replacement was performed in 510 patients (Björk-Shiley valves in 93%), with concomitant surgical procedures in 146 cases. The patients were grouped according to technique of myocardial protection: Group I (n = 98) selective coronary perfusion, group II (n = 82) topical cooling, and group III (n = 330) cold crystalloid cardioplegia and topical cooling. The early mortality rate was 5.

Results of multiple valve repair. A clinical study of 81 patients.

A report is presented of 50 men and 31 women, mean age 50.3 years, who underwent surgery for multivalvular cardiac disease in 1973-1987. NYHA function class was III-IV in 88% of the patients.

Surgical treatment of active native valve endocarditis.

A report is presented of 24 patients (23 male), mean age 38 years, who underwent surgery for active native valve endocarditis of the left heart in 1975-1988. The aortic valve was affected in all patients, and also the mitral valve in five. Pre-existing aortic valve disorder was present in 17 cases (13 congenitally bicuspid 4 rheumatic affection).

Surgical management of congenital aortic stenosis in children and young adults.

The surgical management of congenital aortic stenosis in 33 patients (age 2-20, mean 11 years) is described. The stenosis was valvular in 19 cases, subvalvular in eight and supravalvular in six. The primary procedures in valvular stenosis were valvotomy (12 cases), valve replacement (6) and exploration (1).