Table 4.
Complications of pediatric infective endocarditis during three eras, 1930–2004
| Complications | Era 1 1930–1959 (n = 51) n (%) | Era 2 1977–1992 (n = 55) n (%) | Era 3 1992–2004 (n = 81)an (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rateb | 26 (51) | 37 (67) | 31 (38) |
| Cardiac | 8 (16) | 10 (18) | 19 (23) |
| Valvular insufficiency | – | 9 | 15 |
| Cardiac abscess | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Myocardial infarction | 2 | – | 0 |
| Congestive heart failure | 5 | – | 6 |
| Pulmonary | 15 (29) | 9 (16) | 9 (11) |
| Emboli | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Pleural effusion | 2 | – | 0 |
| Central Nervous System | 8 (16) | 18 (33) | 5 (6) |
| Emboli | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| Seizures | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Meningitis | – | 3 | 0 |
| Other embolic eventsc | 18 (35) | – | 6 (7) |
a
Excludes 4 subjects with a diagnosis determined by autopsy
b
The complication rate decreased over time (P = 0.004)
c
Other included emboli to the kidneys (n = 1), spleen (n = 1), and extremities (n = 4)