Infective endocarditis in patients with an implanted transcatheter aortic valve: Clinical characteristics and outcome of a new entity

Aims This study reports one case and review the literature on TAVI-associated endocarditis (TAVIE), to describe its clinical picture and to perform an analysis on prognostic factors. Methods and results A MEDLINE search from January 2002 to October 2014 revealed 31 cases of TAVIE, including 1 from our hospital. Median age was 81 years (IQR, 78–85), 53% of patients were males and the median age-adjusted Charlson score was 7 (IQR, 5–8). Heart failure was recorded in 42%, embolic events in 19%, and periannular complications in 45%. The most common causative agent was Enterococcus spp (36%). Ten patients (32%) underwent surgery and nine patients died (29%). The prognostic factors for 6-month mortality were heart failure (HR, 9.97 [3.7–24.5]; p = 0.001), periannular complications (HR, 11.82 [3.3–41.3]; p = 0.004), and nonenterococcal/streptococcal etiology (HR, 4.76 [2.1–11.1]; p = 0.03). In patients with heart failure who did not undergo surgery, mortality was 89% (8 out of 9); in those who did undergo surgery, mortality was 0% (p < 0.001). Conclusions TAVIE is an emerging entity with high mortality. Patients with heart failure who did not undergo surgery had a higher probability of dying. Surgical treatment provided better outcomes even in patients in whom surgery had previously been ruled out.