Bacterial Endocarditis after Surgery for Acquired Heart Disease

Abstract

WITH the advent of cardiac surgery, it is surprising that more frequent cases of postcardiotomy endocarditis have not occurred. This is even more striking since it is well recognized that the site of bacterial vegetations is determined, for the most part, by the local changes in valves previously damaged by either rheumatic fever or trauma.¹ Rogers² states that he has personal knowledge of 67 cases, but he does not indicate the frequency or the defect involved. The same author believes that the occurrence of staphylococcal bacterial endocarditis after intracardiac surgery is probably related to the operative procedure. He further notes . . .