Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis of the right sections of the heart

: The authors present results of surgical treatment of infective endocarditis of the right chambers of the heart in 22 patients subjected to 23 operations. Primary endocarditis was diagnosed in 14 patients, secondary endocarditis in 8 patients. Four patients died. In 12 patients the operations were performed during the active phase of the process. Positive bacterial hemoculture was detected in 11 patients. The operations were performed on the open heart. For correction of valve lesions artificial heart valves were used either with special antimicrobial cuffs ("Silzone") or cuffs impregnated with silver ions ("St. Inda Med.") or treated with a solution of Rifampicin during operation.