Search

The extension of infection in native valve infective endocarditis (IE) from valvular structures to the periannular tissue is incompletely understood. It is unknown, for example, whether the prognosis of patients with aortocavitary fistulae is worse than that of those with nonruptured abscesses. The aims of this study were to determine the distinct clinical characteristics of patients with aortocavitary fistulae and nonruptured abscesses in native valve IE and to evaluate the impact of fistulization on the outcomes of patients with native aortic valve IE complicated with periannular lesions. In a retrospective multicenter study of 2,055 native valve IE episodes, 201 patients (9.8%) with periannular complications in aortic valve IE were identified (46 with aortocavitary fistulization and 155 with nonruptured abscesses). Rates of heart failure (p = 0.07), ventricular septal defect (p <0.001), and third-degree atrioventricular block (p = 0.07) were higher in patients with fistulization. Surgical treatment was undertaken in 172 patients (86%), and in-hospital mortality in the overall population was 29%. Multivariate analysis identified age >60 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3 to 5.2), renal failure (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 6.0), and moderate or severe heart failure (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.2) as independent risk factors for death. There was a trend toward increased in-hospital mortality in patients with aortocavitary fistulae (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.7 to 3.0). The actuarial 5-year survival rate in surgical survivors was 80% in patients with fistulae and 92% in patients with nonruptured abscesses (log-rank p = 0.6). In conclusion, aortocavitary fistulous tract formation in the setting of native valve IE is associated with higher rates of heart failure, ventricular septal defect, and atrioventricular block than nonruptured abscess. Despite these higher rates of complications, fistulous tract formation in the current era of IE is not an independent risk factor for mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The periannular extension of infection in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication of infective endocarditis associated with high mortality. Periannular lesions in PVE occasionally rupture into adjacent cardiac chambers, leading to aortocavitary fistulae and intracardiac shunting. It is unknown whether the prognosis of patients with aortocavitary fistulae is worse than that of those with nonruptured abscesses. The aims of this study were to determine the distinctive clinical characteristics of patients with PVE and either aortocavitary fistulization or nonruptured abscesses. In a retrospective multicenter study of >872 PVE episodes, 150 patients (17%) with periannular complications in PVE in the aortic position were identified (29 with aortocavitary fistulization and 121 with nonruptured abscesses). Early-onset PVE was present in 73 patients (49%). Rates of heart failure (p = 0.09), ventricular septal defect (p <0.01), and third-degree atrioventricular block (p = 0.07) were higher in patients with fistulization. Surgical treatment was undertaken in 128 patients (83%). In-hospital mortality in the overall population was 39%. Multivariate analysis identified heart failure (odds ratio [OR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6 to 6.8), renal failure (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.2), and co-morbidity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.1) as independent risk factors for death. Fistulous tract formation was not associated with increased in-hospital mortality (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.7 to 3.7). The actuarial 5-year survival rate in surgical survivors was 100% in patients with fistulae and 78% in patients with nonruptured abscesses (log-rank p = 0.14). In conclusion, aortocavitary fistulous tract formation in PVE complicated with periannular complications is associated with higher rates of heart failure, ventricular septal defect, and atrioventricular block than nonruptured abscesses. Despite the frequent complications, fistulous tract formation in the current era of infective endocarditis is not an independent risk factor for mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]