ARTIFICIAL ORGANS and INFECTIVE COMPLICATIONS. 1. Assisted Circulation and Infective hazard. 2. Prosthetic valve endocarditis

Abstract

Among 1918 openheart cases from 1981 to September 1985, 328 cases required assisted circulation (17.1%). IABP in 319 cases (97.2%), V-A bypass in 26 cases (7.9%), LV bypass in 6 cases (1.8%) and LVAD in 1 case (0.3%). Its longevity depends on the prevention of infective complications. Reduction of blood access in assist devices seemed to be important. Prosthetic valve endocarditis is the severest complication and translocation of artificial aortic valve from infected focus was introduced.