Pseudo-vanishing lung syndrome in a patient with tricuspid valve bacterial endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with opioid use disorder who use injection drugs. It is frequently associated with tricuspid valve endocarditis and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, with secondary pulmonary septic emboli. Herein, we report a unique case of pulmonary cavitation injury following pulmonary septic emboli in the setting of tricuspid valve endocarditis in an injection drug user with opioid use disorder. The pattern of cavitary lung injury mimics radiographically indistinguishable features from vanishing lung syndrome during the most advanced stage of her illness. <Learning objective: This manuscript aims to highlight a new complication of bacterial endocarditis secondary to septic emboli showered from the infected tricuspid valve. This complication, which resembles a pulmonary disease by the name of vanishing lung syndrome, is characterized by extensive pneumatoceles that give the appearance of vanishing lung on chest radiography.>.