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A total of 239 surgically treated patients with primary endocarditis were reviewed both from the literature and from our own experience. The age range was 10 to 74 years with a male to female ratio of 3:1. A wide variety of organisms was found. However, as a group, gram positive organisms predominate. The onset of congestive failure was the major indication for surgery. The aortic valve was predominantly involved with the mitral valve running a distant second. The hospital mortality rate was 20% and the late mortality rate was 6.7% with an overall mortality of 26.7%. The prognosis in infective endocarditis when congestive failure develops, even in the presence of antibiotic therapy, is poor (79-89% mortality). In view of this poor prognosis, an aggressive attitude with regard to early surgical intervention can greatly improve the outcome of valvular endocarditis.