OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features, pathology and surgical treatment experiences in the patients with aortic paravalvular abscess by infective endocarditis.

METHODSThe study consisted of a retrospective analysis of 29 cases with aortic paravalvular abscess by infective endocarditis underwent surgical treatment between January 2001 and June 2013. Among the 29 patients, 22 were male and 7 were female, and the mean age was (37 ± 16) years (range from 11 to 63 years). The primary cardiac disease was congenital aortic valve malformation in 16 patients. There were 15 patients with a history of severe heart failure. Of 29 cases, 8 abscess cavities, 13 pseudoaneurysms and 6 fistulas were found, and complete aortoventricular discontinuity was present in 5 patients with serious infections. Of them, the abscess was above the annulus in 14 patients and below the annulus in 10 patients, and simultaneously involved the annulus above and below in 5 patients. 19 patients were culture positive either positive preoperative blood cultures or positive cultures of surgical specimens, including 9 patients with Staphylococcus infection. The paravalvular defect was repaired by patch in 19 cases, and by local closure in 10 cases. The valvular annulus was reconstructed simultaneously in 16 patients. Aortic valve replacement was performed in 26 patients, and Bentall procedure in 2 patients, including 23 with prosthetic mechanical valve and 5 with biological valve.

RESULTSOf the total 29 patients, 28 patients were recovered, and 1 patient was died of sepsis. During 3 months to 13 years postoperative follow-up (average 4.5 years), one was died of non-cardiac cause, and no patient had recurrent endocarditis and paravalvular leakage.

CONCLUSIONSAortic paravalvular abscess by infective endocarditis is not uncommon, prone to heart failure. According to the different pathological manifestations, the appropriate surgical approach and strategy can achieve satisfactory outcomes.