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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Bacterial Endocarditis after Mitral Valve Replacement
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Bacterial Endocarditis after Mitral Valve Replacement
by Kristine__0, Nov 24, 1998 12:00AM
Re: Re: Re: Bacterial Endocarditis after Mitral Valve Replacement
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Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on November 26, 1998 at 10:29:57:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Bacterial Endocarditis after Mitral Valve Replacement posted by Kristine on November 24, 1998 at 15:52:27:
: : Thank-you!
: ---------------------------------------------------
: Dear Kristine,
: Thank you for your questions. Endocarditis is an infection of one of the valves of the heart. This condition can occur post-operatively. Antibiotics reduce the risk of infection but do not eliminate it. Treatment usually involves protracted antibiotics and may sometimes require repeat surgery.
: I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
: If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Thank-you for replying. What are protracted antibiotics? And what are some causes of this infection? I have read that a reverse blood flow into the heart or blood that stays around the valve is an "attractive" site for the infection to grow. I have read that the infection can also lead to a lot of other complications, ie: stroke, kidney failure, liver shock etc. It appears as if an aggressive treatment is necessay.
There is a lot of information about this particular infection - preventitives, treatments etc....my concern is why it wasn't immediately addressed in my mother's situation. I know only her doctor can answer that, but I am trying to find out all the information I can before I confront him.
Any further information you can give would be greatly appreciated.
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Dear Kristine,
Generally antiobiotics are given intravenously for about 4 to 8 weeks. If the infection fails to resolve repeat surgery is often necessary. Common bacteria that cause endocarditis are strep and staph bacteria. The reason they attach to the valve is thought to be due to the "irregularity" of the valve that allows a "nidus" of infection to start. Unfortunately this is a potential complication of heart valve surgery and often is unavoidable with even the best surgical technique. I hope this helps.
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
