Surgery for infective valve endocarditis in children

Native Aortic Valve Infective Endocarditis Secondary to Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Case Report and Literature Review

Infective endocarditis (IE) refers to a microbial infection affecting either a heart valve or endocardium, resulting in tissue damage and the formation of vegetation. Native aortic valve endocarditis in children is rare and is associated with serious complications related to valvular insufficiency and systemic embolizations. As reports about community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) native aortic valve endocarditis in children are very scarce, we report this case along with a literature review about its complications and management. Here, we report the case of a seven-month-old infant who was previously healthy and presented with signs and symptoms of shock and systemic embolizations secondary to native aortic valve IE. His blood culture showed MRSA. He developed aortic valve insufficiency heart failure and multiorgan septic emboli that progressed to fatal refractory multiorgan failure. The management of complicated aortic valve endocarditis in children is challenging and needs a multidisciplinary team approach and prompt intervention.

Infective endocarditis in paediatric population

Infective endocarditis is very uncommon in children; however, when it does arise, it can lead to severe consequences. The biggest risk factor for paediatric infective endocarditis today is underlying congenital heart defects. The most common causative organisms are Staphylococcus aureus and the viridans group of streptococci. The spectrum of symptoms varies widely in children and this produces difficulty in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis in children is reliant on the modified Duke criteria. The use of blood cultures remains the most effective microbiological test for pathogen identification. However, in blood culture-negative infective endocarditis, serology testing and IgG titres are more effective for diagnosis. Imaging techniques used include echocardiograms, computed tomography and positron emission tomography. Biomarkers utilised in diagnosis are C-reactive protein, with recent literature reviewing the use of interleukin-15 and C-C motif chemokine ligand for reliable risk prediction. The American Heart Association (AHA) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines have been compared to describe the differences in the approach to infective endocarditis in children. Medical intervention involves the use of antimicrobial treatment and surgical interventions include the repair and replacement of cardiac valves. Quality of life is highly likely to improve from surgical intervention.Conclusion: Over the past decades, there have been great advancements in clinical practice to improve outcomes in patients with infective endocarditis. Nonetheless, further work is required to better investigative and manage such high risk cohort. What is Known: • The current diagnostic techniques including 'Duke's criteria' for paediatric infective endocarditis diagnosis • The current management guidelines utilised for paediatric infective endocarditis What is New: • The long-term outcomes of patients that underwent medical and surgical intervention • The quality of life of paediatric patients that underwent medical and surgical intervention.

"Splint" Mitral Valve Repair for Destructive Endocarditis in Children

Medical management of infective endocarditis in the pediatric population has an associated in-hospital mortality rate of up to 25%. In the past, infective endocarditis of the mitral valve was surgically managed with a valve replacement. Now, there is a shift toward repair. However, for complex lesions in pediatric patients, many institutions are still hesitant to perform a mitral valve repair. We describe the cases of three children with destructive mitral valve endocarditis and risk factors for higher perioperative mortality and morbidity who were successfully treated with a complex mitral valve repair with "splint" patch plasty of the posteromedial commissure.

A 20-year study on treating childhood infective endocarditis with valve replacement in a single cardiac center in China

BACKGROUND

Children with infective endocarditis (IE) have to undergo valve replacement instead of valve repair in China due to severe valve damage. The present study is to review our experience on surgical treatment of children with IE in reference to the incidence, pathologic status, diagnosis, surgical strategies and outcomes.

METHODS

We reviewed 35 patients with a mean age of 13.7±2.2 years who were underwent valve replacement surgery for IE during the period from January 1993 to December 2013. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) evaluation and transesophageal echocardiography during operation were performed in all patients. All the children underwent chart review and retrospective risk-hazard analysis.

RESULTS

Among the patients surveyed congenital cardiac lesions were present in 15 (42.8%), rheumatic heart valve disease in 2 (5.7%) and previous heart surgery in 2 (5.7%). The median stay of intensive care unit was 6 days. Intraoperative findings showed that the endocarditis involved mostly the mitral and aortic valves (88.5%). Triple or quadruple valve involvement was found in one patient each. Ten-year freedom from IE-related death and re-intervention was 94.2% and 91.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Children undergoing surgery for IE frequently have advanced disease with embolic complications. Although valve replacement is not the primary option for pediatric IE, the rate of 5-year survival and freedom from re-operation was optimal prognostically. Pediatric physicians should pay attention to the common clinical features of IE so that the native valve is preserved well.

Right-sided infective endocarditis: surgical management

Right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) accounts for 5-10% of all cases of infective endocarditis and is predominantly encountered among injecting drug users (IDUs). RSIE diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion as respiratory symptoms predominate. Prognosis of isolated RSIE is favourable, and most cases (70-80%) resolve following antibiotic administration. Surgical intervention is indicated in patients with persistent infection that does not respond to antibiotic therapy, recurrent pulmonary emboli, intractable heart failure and if the size of a vegetation increases or persists at >1 cm. Techniques can be divided into 'prosthetic' (valve replacement or prosthetic annular implantation) or 'non-prosthetic' ones (Kay's or De Vega's annuloplasty, bicuspidalization or valvectomy). In IDUs who run a high risk of complications, vegetectomy and valve repair, avoiding artificial material should be considered as the first line of surgical management as is associated with better late survival.

Infective endocarditis in infancy after complete atrioventricular septal defect repair

We report a rare case of infective endocarditis after repair of a complete atrioventricular (AV) septal defect in a four-month-old patient. Perforation of a valve leaflet with progressive severe left AV valve regurgitation required surgical intervention. Valve reconstruction using fresh autologous pericardium was successfully accomplished. This reconstruction in association with prolonged antibiotic therapy resulted in complete recovery of the patient.

Surgical treatment of infective valve endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses surgical procedures, operative outcome, and early and intermediate-term results of infective valve endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease.

METHODS

Seven consecutive children (five females, two males; mean age, 10.8 years) who underwent surgery for infective valve endocarditis between 2006 and 2010 were included in the study. The aortic and mitral valves were affected in two and tricuspid in five patients. Indications for operation included cardiac failure due to atrioventricular septal rupture, severe tricuspid valve insufficiency, and septic embolization in one, moderate valvular dysfunction with vegetations in three (two tricuspid, one mitral), and severe valvular dysfunction with vegetations in the other three patients (two tricuspid, one mitral). The pathological microorganism was identified in five patients. Tricuspid valve repair was performed with ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure in five patients. Two patients required mitral valve repair including one with additional aortic valve replacement.

RESULTS

There were no operative deaths. Actuarial freedom from recurrent infection at one and three years was 100%. Early echocardiographic follow-up showed four patients to have mild atrioventricular valve regurgitation (three tricuspid and one mitral) and three had no valvular regurgitation. No leakage from the VSD closure or any valvular stenosis was detected postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral and tricuspid valve repairs can be performed with low morbidity/mortality rates and satisfactory intermediate-term results in children with infective valve endocarditis.

Neisseria sicca endocarditis requiring mitral valve replacement in a previously healthy adolescent

Infective endocarditis due to Neisseria sicca, a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract, is rarely reported but associated with embolic phenomena and large vegetations often requiring surgical intervention. We report a previously healthy 12-year-old girl who presented with prolonged fever and altered mental status. The patient developed rapidly progressive respiratory insufficiency and cardiovascular instability, and echocardiography demonstrated a large vegetation on the mitral valve. She developed worsening mitral regurgitation with resultant pulmonary hemorrhage and underwent mitral valve replacement. Her blood culture was positive for N. sicca. This infection should be considered in patients with prolonged high fever and multiorgan dysfunction. Despite a typically severe course, reported mortality is low.

Pancarditis in a five-year-old boy affecting tricuspid valve and ventricular septum

A five-year-old boy with a structurally normal heart and recent history of adenotomy and gastroenteritis presented with Staphylococcus aureus pancarditis including endocarditis of the tricuspid valve and abscess of the ventricular septum. Surgical treatment consisted of debridement of the valvar vegetations and of the septal abscess. A seven-day continuous mediastinal irrigation with iodine solution was conducted to eliminate local infection sites as well as to prevent from constrictive pericarditis. The patient recovered uneventfully and is in excellent clinical condition with no residues one year after surgery.

Anterior mitral leaflet reconstruction with pericardium in a 1.9 kg infant with endocarditis

A premature twin of 1.9 kg had mitral valve endocarditis develop during neonatal intensive care. Vegetation involving the entire anterior mitral valve leaflet was identified. Reconstruction was achieved by near complete resection of the anterior mitral valve leaflet and retention of the peripheral margin of coaptation including primary and secondary chordae. The body of the anterior mitral valve leaflet was reconstructed using fresh autologous pericardium, a technique not previously reported in an infant of this size. Three and a half years later, the child is well and has required no further intervention.

Aspirin treatment for neonatal infectious endocarditis

We describe a term female neonate with Serratia marcescens endocarditis. Despite adequate antibiotic therapy for 8 days, the bacteremia persisted and there was an increase in vegetation size. Treatment with aspirin was initiated, with resolution of the bacteremia and a gradual decrease in vegetation size. We conclude that in neonatal endocarditis, aspirin may be beneficial additional treatment.

Changing Risk Factors for Pediatric Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis in children is an uncommon infection. Three major groups of children are at risk: 1) those with underlying congenital heart disease, 2) those with central vascular catheters, and 3) children infected with certain virulent organisms. Although the overall incidence of infective endocarditis has increased, the population of children involved has changed. Children with corrected congenital heart disease are at risk during the early postoperative period. Children in whom vascular shunts or grafts are employed remain at the highest risk for endocarditis. Use of central vascular catheters increases risk in children with underlying heart disease and those with normal hearts. Finally, certain pathogens attack the heart valves and cause high morbidity and mortality.

Endocarditis in the Pediatric Population

Endocarditis is a rare, but potentially fatal process in children. Patients with congenital heart disease compose the majority of patients with endocarditis. Neonates and children with central venous catheters are an increasingly frequent group of patients diagnose with this disease. Rheumatic fever predisposing to endocarditis is unusual. Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus aureus are the most pervasive organisms associated with endocarditis, though others are becoming more frequent. Blood cultures should be obtained in febrile children with congenital heart disease before the administration of antibiotics. Echocardiography is useful in children with known endocarditis, and in children in whom there is a high level of clinical suspicion for endocarditis. Echocardiography is a poor screening tool for patients without clinical or bacteriologic evidence for endocarditis. Endocarditis prophylaxis for children with congenital heart disease (excluding a secundum atrial septal defect) before appropriate procedures is recommended.