• Jennifer S Breel, Susanne Eberl, Benedikt Preckel, Ragnar Huhn, Markus W Hollmann, Steffen Rex, and Henning Hermanns.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2023 Oct 1; 37 (10): 195119581951-1958.

ObjectivesTo estimate the current practice in the perioperative management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery due to infective endocarditis.DesignA prospective, open, 24-item, web-based cross-sectional survey.SettingOnline survey endorsed by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC).ParticipantsMembers of the EACTAIC.InterventionsNone.Measurements And Main ResultsA total of 156 responses from 44 countries were received, with a completion rate of 99%. The response rate was 16.6%. Most respondents (76%) practiced cardiac anesthesia in European hospitals, and most respondents stated that a multidisciplinary endocarditis team was not established at their center, that cardiac anesthesiologists appeared to be involved infrequently in those teams (36%), and that they were not involved in decision-making on indication and timing of surgery (88%). In contrast, the cardiac anesthesiologist performed intraoperative antibiotic therapy (62%) and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (90%). Furthermore, there was a relative heterogeneity concerning perioperative monitoring, as well as for coagulation and transfusion management.ConclusionsThis international survey evaluated current practice among cardiac anesthesiologists in the perioperative management of patients with infective endocarditis and the anesthesiologist's role in multidisciplinary decision-making. Heterogeneity in treatment approaches was identified, indicating relevant knowledge gaps that should encourage further clinical research to optimize treatment and postoperative outcomes in this specific population.Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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