The prognostic significance of finding vegetations by M-mode echocardiography in patients with infective endocarditis remains controversial because many such patients are referred for early surgery. We detected vegetations in 7 of 25 consecutive subjects with active infective endocarditis (28.1 %) studied by M-mode echocardiography. 11 patients died within 1 year and only 1 underwent surgery. Patients with vegetations had a higher likelihood of developing serious complications such as death, congestive heart failure or ‘severe congestive heart failure’ when compared with patients without vegetation. This study validates previously reported series including a high percentage of patients ‘requiring surgery’ and points to the serious prognostic implication of finding a vegetation by M-mode echocardiography.
📖 افتح في inklap 🔗 DOI 📮 اطلب بحثاً