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Splenic abscess associated with infective endocarditis; Case series

Abdelfatah Elasfar1, Abdulaziz AlBaradai2, Ziyad AlHarfi2

  • 1Prince Salman Heart Center, King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association
|July 3, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Splenic abscess, a rare infective endocarditis complication, requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Early splenectomy combined with antibiotics and valve surgery offers a potentially life-saving approach for patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Surgical Management

Background:

  • Splenic abscess is a rare but serious complication of infective endocarditis.
  • Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to fatal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present case reports on the management of splenic abscesses in patients with infective endocarditis.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of splenectomy in conjunction with other treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Case series of three patients diagnosed with splenic abscess secondary to infective endocarditis.
  • Diagnosis confirmed via abdominal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Management involved splenectomy (pre- or post-cardiac surgery) and antibiotic therapy.

Main Results:

  • All three patients successfully recovered after treatment.
  • Splenectomy was performed either before or after valve replacement surgery.
  • Outpatient follow-up confirmed satisfactory patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Immediate splenectomy, appropriate antibiotics, and valve replacement surgery are crucial for managing splenic abscess in infective endocarditis.
  • A multidisciplinary team approach is recommended for optimal patient outcomes.
  • This combined strategy may represent the treatment of choice for this clinical scenario.

Keywords:
Infective endocarditisSplenic abscess

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