Surgicel mimicking early onset prosthetic valve endocarditis: case report

Surgicel is one of the commercial forms of oxidized regenerated cellulose used as a bioabsorbable topical haemostatic agent during surgical procedures. However, its presence can mimic an abscess, tumour, lymph node or retained foreign body on imaging studies. The challenge in cardiac surgery is to differentiate the haemostatic material from an abscess that might be mistaken for an early onset prosthetic valve endocarditis.

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our department for a suspicion of early onset prosthetic valve endocarditis after an aortic valve replacement. An early clinical and biological improvement, features on a chest computed tomography scan, as well as a surgical correlation were able to rectify the diagnosis. The acute fever was linked to urinary tract infection, whereas the periaortic echogenic mass shown at the transoesophageal echocardiography corresponded to Surgicel.

Oxidized regenerated cellulose can mimic an abscess on cardiac imaging, especially when used in excess during cardiac surgery. Fortunately, some radiographic features can help differentiate the haemostatic material from an abscess. Hence, sharing the use and location of Surgicel between the surgeon, radiologist, and cardiologist is very important and necessary to make the correct diagnosis.