[Prosthesis endocarditis--a surgical indication!].

The authors summarize their experience of the management of 26 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Out of 11 patients who did not undergo surgery, 8 were treated medically, with 9 early deaths (mortality 75%). 15 patients were treated surgically with 3 deaths caused by resistant infection (mortality 20%). Prosthetic valve endocarditis remains a dangerous complication of valve replacement, and the authors recommend immediate valve replacement in all patients with infected mechanical valves.