French national survey on infective endocarditis and the Melody™ valve in percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation.

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is a routine treatment for dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract. Infective endocarditis (IE) is a major concern.

AIM: To report French experience with the Melody™ valve (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA).

METHODS

All patients who underwent PPVI were recorded in a multicentre French national survey. Demographic and procedural data were collected from patients with IE. Bacterial identification, diagnostic tools and outcome were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-five cases of IE were diagnosed in 43 patients. The cumulative IE incidence was 11.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.5-15.9). The annualized IE incidence was 3.6% (95% CI 0-4.8). Freedom from IE was 96.3% and 85.8% at 12 months and 60 months, respectively. IE incidence did not change during the study period. The mean interval between PPVI and IE was 2.6±2.1 years (range, 5 days to 7.3 years). Fifteen patients with IE required intravenous antibiotics only. Seven patients had early interventional cardiac catheterization to relieve severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Twenty-four patients had surgical valve replacement (six urgently; nine semi-urgently; nine electively). Staphylococcus aureus IE required surgery in all but one patient. Three patients died before any treatment. Three additional patients died, giving a mortality rate of 14%. Global survival in the total cohort of patients who received a Melody valve was excellent (96.5% at 5 years). When comparing survival curves between the IE and non-IE groups, death and cardiovascular events were statistically significantly higher in the IE group (log-rank P<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Melody valve IE is a severe complication following PPVI. The annualized IE incidence in this cohort was similar to rates reported in other studies. With rapid diagnosis and adequate treatment, outcome has improved, and unfavourable outcome is mainly associated with S. aureus.