Does a two-stage tricuspid valve replacement eliminate infection and restore health in a patient with active, antibiotic-refractory tricuspid staphylococcal endocarditis?
A two-stage surgical technique (tricuspidectomy followed by delayed valve prosthesis insertion) may be an effective treatment for active tricuspid staphylococcal endocarditis refractory to antibiotics.
One month after a 21-year-old female drug addict with tricuspid staphylococcal endocarditis seemed to have been cured by antibiotic therapy she relapsed. Further antibiotic treatment for one month failed to control the infection. Tricuspidectomy was when performed and the infection was eliminated. A valve prosthesis was inserted 3 months later. She recovered and is now fully restored to health. We recommend this two-stage surgical technique in similar cases.
Arneborn et al. (1977) studied this question.