Association Between Valvular Surgery and Mortality Among Patients With Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Heart Failure

Abstract

Infective endocarditis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Several published studies have reported in-hospital mortality of 15% to 20% and 1-year mortality of 40%.¹ In the United States alone, approximately 15 000 new cases of infective endocarditis are diagnosed each year.¹ A variety of complications contribute to the high rates of morbidity and mortality in infective endocarditis, particularly heart failure (HF), which occurs in approximately 40% of patients.^2,3 Several observational studies have shown a mortality benefit for valvular surgery in infective endocarditis complicated by HF,² and this indication for surgery is strongly recommended in current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology guidelines.^4,5