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A case series of medically managed infective endocarditis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Thi Aung1, Karl Poon, Robert Horvath

  • 1Infectious Disease Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. thi_aung@health.qld.gov.au

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|January 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement infective endocarditis (TAVR-IE) can present atypically. Enterococcal infections and mitral valve involvement were noted, but patients responded well to antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a common procedure for aortic stenosis.
  • Infective endocarditis (IE) is a known complication of cardiac procedures.
  • Understanding TAVR-IE is crucial for patient management.

Observation:

  • A series of 4 cases of TAVR-IE were identified.
  • Echocardiography revealed atypical diagnostic features in these cases.
  • Enterococcal species were frequently implicated in the infections.

Findings:

  • Two patients presented with coexisting mitral valve vegetation.
  • All four patients demonstrated excellent clinical response to intravenous antibiotic therapy.
  • Atypical echocardiographic findings may complicate TAVR-IE diagnosis.

Implications:

  • Early recognition of atypical TAVR-IE features is important.
  • Enterococcus species should be considered in TAVR-IE.
  • Prompt antibiotic treatment leads to favorable outcomes in TAVR-IE.

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