Abstract :
[en] Over the last decade there has been a remarkable increase in prosthetic heart valve replacement and cardiac implantable electronic device utilization. Although capable of improving the quality and quantity of life of patients suffering from severe valvular heart disease or rhythm disorders, they are both subject to potentially life-threatening infection involving the endocardium, referred to as device infective endocarditis (DIE)1,2. The rate of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) ranges from 1-6% to 15%, being higher in revision surgery1. The infection usually involves the junction between the sewing ring and the annulus, leading to perivalvular abscess, dehiscence, pseudo-aneurysms, and fistulae, or the leaflets of the prosthesis, leading to vegetations, cusp rupture, and perforation. Cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE), to be distinguished from local device infection (pocket/generator), is defined as an infection involving the electrode leads, cardiac valve leaflets, or endocardial surface. An incidence of 1.4 per 1000 device-years of definite CDRIE has been reported3. DIE may occur at anytime, being related to surgery only in early cases.
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