scholarly journals The value of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography for the diagnosis of the native aortic infective endocarditis valve complications: a case report and literature review.

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Molnar ◽  
Diana Sacui ◽  
Simona Manole ◽  
Amanda Radulescu ◽  
Ruxandra Beyer

Despite its current limitations transthoracic echocardiography is still widely used for the anatomical and functional evaluation of patients with infective endocarditis. However, all these limitations can be overcome by using transesophageal echocardiography. We present the case of a 42-year-old male patient, diagnosed with aortic valve infective endocarditis, whose transthoracic echocardiography showed only a cusp vegetation and aortic regurgitation, but raised the suspicion of periannular complications. The transesophageal echocardiography revealed a circular aortic root abscess and a ventricular septal defect with left-to-right shunt, and consequently leads to a complete different surgical tactical approach. The patient was urgently referred for surgery due to the rapid deterioration of the hemodynamic status, and had a good outcome on the short-term follow-up.

Cardiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Goncalves ◽  
Charles Nyman ◽  
David R. Okada ◽  
Avinainder Singh ◽  
Jeffrey Swanson ◽  
...  

Background: We aimed to compare periprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with postprocedural transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the diagnosis of aortic regurgitation (AR). Methods and Results: TEE and TTE images of 163 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients (mean age 81 ± 8 years; 56% men) were reviewed separately and blinded to each other as well as to all clinical data. The median time between TEE during TAVR (TEE/TAVR) and TTE was 4 days (IQR 2-10 days). After TAVR, 48% of the patients had at least trace AR by TEE, 56% by angiography and 67% by TTE. The majority of AR was paravalvular (78%). More patients were classified with mild-to-moderate AR by TTE than by TEE (44 vs. 22%, p < 0.01). When examining the 46 patients with AR by TTE which was not at TEE/TAVR, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were significantly higher during TTE than during TEE (mean ΔSBP = 9 ± 4 mm Hg and mean ΔDBP = 6 ± 2 mm Hg, p < 0.01 for both). No differences in BP between TEE and TTE were found among patients with no AR or among those who had AR in both studies. At a median follow-up of 185 days (IQR 39-424 days), the overall mortality was 17%, but this was not associated with the presence of AR on TTE or TEE. Conclusions: Patients' hemodynamic conditions may result in underdiagnosis of paravalvular regurgitation in periprocedural TEE. Our findings suggest that a postprocedural evaluation for AR by TTE could serve as a reasonable alternative to TEE for the evaluation of AR.


Author(s):  
Despina Toader ◽  
Mioara Cocora ◽  
Constantin Bătăiosu ◽  
Luminiă Ocroteală

Abstract Background Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cardiovascular malformation and occurs in 1–2% of the population. The haemodynamic changes appear early, leading to tissue damage and predisposing to germs attachment. The development of perivalvular extension is a constant in bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis. Infective endocarditis with anaerobic bacteria is a rare condition with a high rate of mortality. Case summary We report a case of a young female with bicuspid aortic valve infective endocarditis. Involved bacteria were anaerobic streptococci, and the clinical course of the diseases was very aggressive. The echocardiographic evaluation revealed aortic and mitral regurgitation, perivalvular abscess, ventricular septum defect, and pericardial effusion. The surgery approach consisted of the aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis after radical resection of aortic root abscess and reconstruction of the annulus. The ventricular septum defect was also closed with a pericardial patch. Anticoagulation started the first day after surgery. The patient was received antibiotic therapy for 10 days before and 4 weeks after surgical intervention. Evolution was very good at 1 and 6 months follow-up. Discussion This is a severe case of endocarditis, complicated with extensive valvular destruction, aortic root abscess, and fistula. Perivalvular complications are frequent in patients with bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis. The ‘take away’ message is that echocardiography is an essential tool for diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with infective endocarditis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 280-283
Author(s):  
Ahmed Ahmed ◽  
Ayman Ammar ◽  
Yasser Elnahas ◽  
Mohammed Abd Al Jawad

Aortic root abscess complicated by infective endocarditis of a mechanical prosthetic valve is associated with morbidity and death. We retrospectively report our experience with a valve-sparing technique for managing this condition. From October 2014 through November 2017, 41 patients at our center underwent surgery for aortic root abscess complicated by infective endocarditis of a mechanical prosthetic valve. Twenty (48.7%) met prespecified criteria for use of our valve-sparing technique after careful assessment of the mechanical valve and surrounding tissues. Our technique involved draining the abscess, aggressively débriding all infected and necrotic tissues, and then repairing the resulting defect by suturing a Gelweave patch to the healthy aortic wall and to the cuff of the valve. We successfully preserved the mechanical aortic valve in all 20 patients. Two (10%) died early (≤30 d postoperatively) of low cardiac output syndrome with progressive heart failure, superadded septicemia, and multisystem organ failure. At 1-year follow-up, the 18 surviving patients (90%) were symptom free and had a well-functioning mechanical aortic valve with no paravalvular leak. We conclude that, in certain patients, our technique for managing aortic root abscess and sparing the mechanical aortic valve is a safe and less time-consuming approach with relatively low mortality and encouraging midterm follow-up outcomes.


Author(s):  
Afsaneh Sadeghian ◽  
Hakimeh Sadeghian

Introduction: We present three cases of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm concomitant with a cardiac lesion in 2 cases of ventricular septal defect and 1 case of bicuspid aortic valve with mild aortic insufficiency. Case presentation: In 2/3 cases, the site of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm originated from right coronary cusps and one from non-coronary cusps. Both ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm from right coronary cusps communicated to right ventricle, and one that originated from non-coronary cusps ruptured to right atrium. All cases were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Two underwent the surgery, while one did not want to continue treatment. Conclusion: ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly. In the Eastern countries, the most common associated anomalies with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm are ventricular septal defect and aortic regurgitation. Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm mainly originates from right coronary cusps and is ruptured into  right ventricle. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography are employed to confirm the diagnosis. In this cohort, the coexistences of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with ventricular septal defect and aortic regurgitation (case 1), ventricular septal defect (case 2), aortic regurgitation and  bicuspid aortic valve  (case 3) are observed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zai-Qiang Zhang ◽  
Jia-Wang Ding

Abstract Background While the perforation of the atrial wall and aortic sinus after closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) is rare, it’s life-threatening, with rapid progress and high mortality. To the best of our knowledge, 21 similar cases have been reported since 1976. Case presentation We report a 16-year-old male whose atrial septal defect (ASD) was closed using a 12-mm Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO). Atrial wall and aortic sinus perforation occurred 3 months after transcatheter closure, and the patient was discharged after emergency operation. He was discharged on the 12th postoperative day in good overall condition. Conclusions With this case report, we want to illustrate that although percutaneous closure of ASD is regarded as a routine procedure, we should not forget the potentially lethal complications, especially cardiac erosion. Therefore, we should carefully evaluate the risk of erosion before surgery, and careful lifelong follow-up is needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (11) ◽  
pp. 98-101
Author(s):  
L I Dvoretsky ◽  
S V Yakovlev ◽  
E V Sergeeva ◽  
S E Kolendo

A patient with infective endocarditis (IE), complicated by the development of the abscess of the spleen, is described. The diagnosis of IE was verified several months after the onset of clinical symptoms (fever, hemorrhagic skin rashes, splenomegaly).The patient suspected hemorrhagic vasculitis and lymphoma of the spleen, which were not confirmed. With transesophageal echocardiography, vegetations on the aortic valve have been identified, and, according to CT, a spleen infarct with suspected abscess. A successful simultaneous operation was performed - aortic valve replacement and splenectomy. An abscess was found in the spleen. The patient is discharged in a satisfactory condition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 704-706
Author(s):  
Hassan Tatari ◽  
Maziar Gholampour Dehaki ◽  
Gholamreza Omrani ◽  
Hafez Ghaheri ◽  
Alwaleed Al-Dairy ◽  
...  

Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare anomaly, and most patients require surgery for aortic regurgitation in the 5th or 6th decades of life; only a few cases of aortic valve repair in childhood have been reported. A 3-year-old boy was scheduled for ventricular septal defect closure and aortic valve repair. Quadricuspid aortic valve was an incidental finding at operation; it was repaired by joining the left anterior and right anterior cusps. At the 9-month follow-up, the patient had no more than mild aortic regurgitation. We emphasize the importance of detecting this anomaly, especially in children with aortic valve regurgitation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Pereira Oliveira ◽  
D Seabra ◽  
A Neto ◽  
I Cruz ◽  
G Abreu ◽  
...  

Abstract Mitral valve aneurysms (MVA) are uncommon and usually develop acutely in the setting of infective endocarditis (IE). We present a case report of a patient with a ruptured aneurysm of the mitral valve (MV) leaflet and obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), previously treated for IE. Echocardiography is essential for diagnosis, highlighting the importance of imaging for early identification and timely intervention. CASE REPORT 68-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia was admitted to hospital with a 3-week history of malaise, fever and recent left-sided abdominal pain. No past relevant history. Physical examination revealed a grade II/VI systolic heart murmur at the cardiac apex, fever, abdominal tenderness in the left upper quadrant and purpuric lesions in the inferior limbs. Neutrophilia, CPR 211mg/L. Positive blood cultures for Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-sensitive. Spleen embolization, with no abcess on abdominal CT. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) disclosed a highly mobile polypoid mass in the atrial side of the anterior MV leaflet, septal left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the MV. Mild mitral regurgitation (MR). No evidence of abcess, aneurysm or valve perforation. The diagnosis of IE was established and the patient completed 42 days of Flucloxaciline. Favorable clinical evolution, residual lesions on the MV. TTE and TEE were repeated on follow-up. Besides HCM and SAM of the MV, an aneurysm of the anterior leaflet of the MV was identified and two regurgitant jets: one due to incomplete coaptation of the leaflets; other through the perforated aneurysm. Mild global MR. A strategy of close follow-up was adopted. Beta blocker dose was increased. Maintenance of the characteristics of the aneurysm. DISCUSSION MVA are rare, with perforation and significant MR development as the most serious complications. They mostly develop in the acute setting of IE of the aortic valve (AV), due to the "jet lesion" from the regurgitant jet or direct extension of the infection. In this case, MVA developed as a late complication of IE of the MV. Previous infection and inflammation lead to increased susceptibility of the valve leaflet, with possible persistent chronic inflammation. In the setting of obstructive HCM, the lesioned endothelium is exposed to significant intraventricular pressure gradients, which have probably raised its propensity to bulge towards the atrium, resulting in aneurysm formation and perforation. Optimal approach to MVA has not been defined. If the setting of perforation with severe MR, surgery must be performed in order to avoid a fatal outcome. In small aneurysms with mild MR, a conservative approach seems reasonable. The purpose of this case is to highlight potential complications of IE, which should be actively investigated, with echocardiography playing a central role in the diagnosis and follow-up.


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