The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 37, 484-487, Copyright © 1984 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The surgical management of extravalvular aortic root infection
B Sethia, IJ Reece, AW Forrester and KG Davidson
Fifteen patients with extravalvular aortic root infection and associated
infective endocarditis underwent urgent operation for this condition at
Glasgow Royal Infirmary between 1977 and 1983. Four patients (26.7%)
subsequently died between 1 and 68 months after operation. All patients
underwent aortic valve replacement, with debridement or suture closure of
abscess cavities as indicated. Three patients also required insertion of
permanent pacing systems for complete heart block. Three other patients
required further surgical intervention. Aortic valve rereplacement was done
on two occasions in 1 patient and repair of a periprosthetic leak in the
second patient; the third required one additional procedure to close an
aorto-right atrial fistula postoperatively. Ten out of 11 survivors are in
New York Heart Association Class I, and the remaining patient is in Class
II. Aggressive surgical therapy without the need for complicated
reconstructive procedures of the aortic root is effective in the management
of extravalvular aortic root infections.
