Abstract
Background
Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is being increasingly used as a minimally invasive corrective procedure for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction. Ten-year survival following PPVI is estimated at over 90% due to the durability of the various bioprosthetic valves. However, infective endocarditis (IE) remains a potential complication of such valves with significant morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the presenting symptoms, clinical features, pathogens, and outcomes of patients with IE following PPVI to identify opportunities to improve early diagnosis and management.
Methods
A convenience sample of patients at a large Pediatric Cardiology practice in Northern Virginia was queried for PPVI and IE from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2019. Manual chart review was done to extract clinical points of interest and descriptive analyses were performed. Patients were classified as having IE per modified Duke’s criteria.
Results
We identified 14 patients who underwent PPVI. Five of these patients (36%) developed IE. All IE patients had underlying Tetralogy of Fallot and none had previous episodes of IE. 60% of patients with IE were male with a median age of 26 years old (IQR 20–30). Four IE patients had a Melody valve and 1 had a SAPIEN valve. The median elapsed time between PPVI and IE diagnosis was 128 days (IQR 32–391) with a median duration of illness prior to the diagnosis of IE of 6 days (IQR 5–9). All IE patients had to present fever. 40% of IE patients had to present chest pain and 20% had presenting musculoskeletal pain. All IE patients had an elevated initial C-reactive protein (CRP) with a median value of 13.1 mg/dL (IQR 12.5–15.2). The median initial white blood cell count was 9.3 × 103/μL (IQR 8.1–10.3). The median duration of bacteremia was 1 day (IQR 1–2). A pathogen was recovered in all five IE patients with different organisms amongst the patients: coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species were recovered in patients who developed IE within 60 days from PPVI (Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Staphylococcus epidermidis) whereas coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species and oral commensal organisms were found in IE patients beyond 60 days from PPVI (Staphylococcus sanguinis, Gamella haemolysans, and Neisseria elongata). The initial echocardiogram did not show vegetations in any of the patients and 40% went on to have sternotomy with valve replacement. There were no deaths.
Conclusions
With an increase in PPVI, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for IE in patients with underlying Tetralogy of Fallot who present with fever and elevated CRP, regardless of elapsed time from PPVI or valve type. Empiric antimicrobial therapy for suspected IE following PPVI should remain broad with other possible pathogens beyond coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species.
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: the goal standard in preoperative assessment and follow up of injectable pulmonary valve implantation