[Anatomic lesions in bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valves. Practical implications]

Bacterial infection of aortic valves remains frequent and worrying. The virulence of the pathogen in question, the history of the infection and the topography of valvular involvement account for certain lesional features, notably cardiac abscess and contiguous lesions, which are seen in 50% of cases with autopsy material. Clinically suspected cardiac abscesses can be detected by echocardiography when their size reaches or exceeds 4 mm. Their active nature is such that emergency surgery is an additional indication to be added to conventional ones such as uncontrolled infection, heart failure refractory to treatment, and repeated systemic embolism.