Mitral valve repair versus replacement for infective endocarditis. What is better in the “real world”?

The indications for surgery in native valve endocarditis are now well defined by the guidelines developed by the main societies of cardiology and cardiac surgery from both sides of the Atlantic.1,2 However, the choice of surgical procedure is less well defined, especially with regard to repair versus replacement. The principal concern is the effect of active infection on the feasibility and durability of repair, and this applies to all valves, especially the aortic and the mitral. But recurrence of infection is very common after implantation of a prosthesis, whether mechanical or biological, apparently with no difference between the two.
Source: The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Editorial commentary Source Type: research