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Published on: July 18, 2014
Tricuspid valve endocarditis with septic pulmonary emboli in a drug addict
Alexander Weymann1, Bastian Schmack, Christian Rosendal
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center-University of Heidelberg, Germany. weymann.alexander@googlemail.com
Abstract:
Presented is a case of a young, polytoxicomaniac male with a history of intravenous drug abuse. He arrived at our department in a septic state with fever and showed signs of right-sided decompensated cardiac insufficiency. The patient tested positive for hepatitis C, and blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. A thoracic computed tomographic scan revealed bilateral, multiple septic pulmonary emboli. Transesophageal echocardiography disclosed large mobile vegetations on the tricuspid valve associated with severe regurgitation. The infected tricuspid valve was replaced with a mechanical heart valve, and the patient recovered uneventfully from surgery.
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