Avoiding the pump in tricuspid valve endocarditis--vegetectomy under inflow occlusion.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of tricuspid valve endocarditis (TVE) ranges from vegetectomy to valve replacement with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), accompanied by risks of systemic and lung complications. We present our experience with tricuspid valve vegetectomy under inflow occlusion without CPB. METHODS: Between July 1998 and July 2001, seven patients with a mean age of 26 years underwent tricuspid valve vegetectomy under vena caval inflow occlusion (VCIO). Five patients were intravenous drug users. None of them had left-sided heart valve involvement. The clinical indications for operating were recurrent septic pulmonary emboli with significant bilateral lung infiltrates and i..