Use of the pericardial cord as a substitute for an infected mitral prosthetic ring associated with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis.

We report the case of a 61-year-old man with prosthetic valve endocarditis after both aortic valve replacement and mitral annuloplasty. Necrotic tissue and dehiscence of the suture line in the aortic annulus were found, and the infection extended to the anterior portion of the mitral prosthetic ring. The autologous pericardial cord was used as a substitute for the infected mitral prosthetic ring, and aortic root replacement was performed with a stentless bioprosthesis. The autologous pericardial cord was useful as a substitute for an infected mitral prosthetic ring.