[Surgical Treatment with Pulsed Lavage Irrigation for Infective Endocarditis].

INTRODUCTION: Pulsed lavage irrigation (PLI) is a procedure used to wash contaminated soft tissues and prevent infection in orthopedic surgery. We applicated PLI for surgical treatment of infective endocarditis( IE).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January 2017 to June 2021, 6 cases underwent surgical treatment IE using PLI. We investigated an efficacy of PLI.

RESULTS: Infected valves were mitral valve in 4 cases, aortic valve in 1 case, and aortic prosthetic valve in 1 case. The performed procedures were mitral valve plasty in 4 cases, aortic valve replacement in 1 case, and 1 removal of vegetation on the aortic prosthetic valve. No recurrence of IE or no deterioration of the native valve or the prosthetic valve was observed in follow-up periods.

CONCLUSION: PLI was useful for surgical treatment of IE because of no recurrence of IE or no deterioration of native mitral valves or the aortic prosthetic valve.