2016 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) consensus guidelines: Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis: Executive summary

Abstract

PREAMBLEOur mission was to develop evidence-based American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) consensus focused on the surgical treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) and perioperative questions: when to operate, how to prepare the patient for operation, how to operate, and other issues relevant to managing and following patients after surgery. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The writing committee included 4 cardiac surgeons, 1 cardiologist, 2 infectious disease specialists, and Dr Eugene H. Blackstone. The draft produced was reviewed by invited additional experts, including 4 cardiac surgeons, 1 anesthesiologist, 1 cardiologist, 2 imaging experts, 3 infectious disease specialists, and 1 neurologist (See Appendix E1).

Disseminated Mycobacterium chimaera infection associated with heater–cooler units after aortic valve surgery without endocarditis

“…However, our first case highlights the fact that the valve/graft may not always be involved. [28][29][30] Delays in diagnosis and treatment in the setting of disseminated M chimaera infection are multifactorial. We remain hopeful that earlier diagnosis and initiation of treatment will improve outcomes, as current evidence predicts high mortality after this diagnosis.…”

Systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical outcomes comparing mechanical valve replacement and bioprosthetic valve replacement in infective endocarditis

“…There is no clear agreement on the best prosthetic valve choice, neither for non-infective nor for IE. This is represented by different recommendations of the European and American guidelines (39,42). Despite current recommendations, mechanical valves compared to bioprosthetic valve substitutes are probably used in the ratio 1:10, with more tissue valves being implanted even in younger patients (43,44).…”

Three‐dimensional echocardiography of mitral Barlow's disease with infective endocarditis: Perforations or cleft‐like indentations?

“…Despite 8 days of antibiotic treatment, the patient did not defervesce. Therefore, she was scheduled to undergo MV surgery due to severe MR accompanied by worsening dyspnea and persistently high fever, according to the guidelines of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery …”