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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Layer Microdissection of Tricuspid Valve Leaflets for Biaxial Mechanical Characterization and Microstructural Quantification
Published on: February 10, 2022
Tricuspid valve infective endocarditis complicated with multiple lung abscesses and thoracic empyema as different
Ya-Fu Cheng1, Yung-Kun Hsieh2, Bing-Yen Wang1
1Division of general thoracic surgery, department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, No. 135 Nanxiao St., Changhua City, Changhua County, 500, Taiwan.
Background:
Only 4.1% of tricuspid valve IE cases require surgical intervention. The complication after tricuspid valve IE with lung abscess and empyema is rare.
Case Presentation:
We report the case of a 38-year-old male (an intravenous drug abuser) diagnosed with tricuspid valve IE who underwent tricuspid valve replacement. The case was complicated by multiple lung abscesses and thoracic empyema. The pathogens causing the lung abscesses and empyema were Acinetobacter baumannii complex and Candida albicans, which were different from those causing the endocarditis. After 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, chest X-ray revealed bilateral clear lung markings with only mild blunting of the right costophrenic angle.
Conclusion:
The pathogen causing the lung abscess is not always compatible with that causing the endocarditis. Thoracoscopic incision of the abscess with 4 to 6 weeks of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment is effective and safe.
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