Is there an Advantage in Using Homografts in Patients with Acute Infective Endocarditis of the Aortic Valve?
Helmut Gulbins MD, Eckehard Kilian MD, Severine Roth MD, Antje Uhlig MD, Eckart Kreuzer MD, Bruno Reichart MD

A total of 77 patients operated on for acute endocarditis was analyzed retrospectively. The causative bacterium was isolated from blood cultures in 71 cases. Aortic homografts were implanted in 43 patients, and mechanical valve prostheses in 34. The two groups were similar in terms of gender, age and preoperative inotropic support. 31 patients (44%) had paravalvular abscesses, and a homograft was used significantly more often (77%, p <0.05) in these cases. Follow up examinations were performed six months postoperatively and annually thereafter. The study results do not suggest that homografts be used in patients with acute endocarditis. However, in cases with paravalvular abscesses there was a trend towards improved outcome in the homograft group.