[A case of rupture of the tendinous cord caused by infective endocarditis]

The paper reports a case of infective endocarditis of the valve, with an insidious and slow onset accompanied by low fever, debility, loss of weight, anemia, and the concomitant echocardiographic observation of pericardial effusion. Subsequent echocardiographic tests produced images which probably referred to valvular vegetation. As a matter of fact these findings proved to be result of the rupture of the latero-posterior tendinous cord of the mitral flap and other similar cords whose stumps, covered in fibrin, had adhered to the edge of the anterior cups. This finding was discovered during surgery, which was performed early and successfully, and was followed by excellent long-term results.