Aortic valve replacement for active infectious endocarditis in 108 patients : a comparison of freehand allograft valves with mechanical prostheses and bioprostheses

A total of 108 patients hospitalized with active (acute) endocarditis on either a native aortic valve (n=66) or a previously inserted replacement device (n=42) underwent aortic valve replacement because they were too ill for hospital discharge. A nonstented aortic allograft valve was used in 78 patients and prosthetic (mechanical or bioprosthetic) valves in 30 patients. The survival rate was 82% at 1 month, 73% at 1 year, 64% at 5 years, and 36% at 15 years. It was better in patients with native valve endocarditis than prosthetic valve endocarditis