In patients with severe active aortic valve endocarditis, is a stentless valve as good as the homograft?

Abstract

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'In patients with severe active aortic valve endocarditis, is a stentless valve as good as a homograft?' The scientific literature was reviewed by searching Medline, using the OVID interface, from 1950 to March 2010. One hundred and eight papers were found. Twelve papers were used in the writing of the article, of which 10 were deemed relevant to the topic. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, and results of these papers were tabulated. In the homograft series, literature review reports a reinfection rate from 3.8% to 6.8%. Yankah, in studying 161 patients with endocarditis, reports 91% freedom from reinfection at 10 and 17 years and 70% survival at 17-year follow-up. Sabik, in studying 103 consecutive patients with prosthetic endocarditis, reports a 3.8% reinfection rate and 95% freedom from reinfection at 10 years, with 56% survival at 10 year. In the stentless series: Musci, in studying 255 patients with endocarditis, reports a 8.6% reinfection rate, 83% freedom from reinfection at five years and 46% five-year survival. He finds a non-significant difference between survival and freedom from reinfection in patients with native valve endocarditis compared to those with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) (P=0.1371 and P=0.8356). The same author, in 221 patients treated with a homograft, reports a 5.4% reinfection rate and 10-year freedom from reoperation, with a reinfection rate in native and PVE of 92%. Ten-year survival was better in native than in PVE (P=0.029). Siniawski, comparing two groups of patients treated with stentless valves and homografts, finds an equal reinfection rate of 4% and lower mortality for the stentless group (12% vs. 16%, respectively). He finds the reinfection rate to be lower for the homograft and stentless groups than for the patients treated with standard prostheses, respectively, 5.8%, 3.7% and 33%. The stentless valve offers a reinfection rate and postoperative echocardiographic data comparable to those achieved with homografts. Further follow-up is required to determine the stentless valve durability and long-term freedom from valve-related complications.