[Prosthetic valve endocarditis complicated with cardiogenic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation; report...

A 67-year-old man, who had been performed aortic and mitral valve replacement 3 years before, was admitted because of appetite loss, general fatigue and anemia. Although transthoracic echocadiogram showed no evidence of prosthetic valves failure, the patient fell in profound shock. He needed endotracheal intubation and inotropic support. Transesophageal echocadiogram revealed vegetation formation on the prosthetic mitral valve and massive periprosthetic valve leakage. The diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis was established. Blood examination showed severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The patient underwent re-mitral valve replacement and recovered well from shock and DIC.