August 1, 1979
View Full PaperSurvival of Patients With Aortic Valve Endocarditis
Key Result
Echocardiographic findings of vegetation, flail cusp, or root abscess in aortic valve endocarditis were associated with high embolic risk (10/17) and poor medical survival (2/9) vs surgery (8/8).
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=32)
PICO
P
Population
aortic valve endocarditis (n=32)
I
Intervention / Comparator
Echocardiography
O
Primary Outcome
Survival and embolic episodes
Abstract
The clinical and prognostic implications of the echocardiogram were assessed in 32 patients with clinical aortic valve endocarditis. Seventeen patients had an echocardiographic diagnosis of a vegetation, a flail cusp, or a root abscess (group 1). Ten group 1 patients had embolic episodes. Eight group 1 patients were treated surgically and all survived, while nine group 1 patients were treated medically and two survived. Eleven patients had echocardiographic aortic valve sclerosis (group 2). One group 2 patient had an embolic episode. Six group 2 patients were treated surgically and four survived, while five group 2 patients were treated medically and three survived. Four patients had normal aortic valve echograms (group 3). One group 3 patient had an embolic episode. All group 3 patients were treated medically and survived.