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Eustachian valve endocarditis: Case report and literature review
Julian Chan Pei Loon1, Charles Chao1, John F Younger1
1Department of Cardiology Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Herston Road Brisbane Queensland Australia.
Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine
|November 11, 2021
Summary
Infective endocarditis in intravenous drug users (IVDUs) commonly affects the tricuspid valve. This case highlights rare Eustachian valve endocarditis, often missed and linked to Staphylococcus bacteraemia in IVDUs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Right-sided valvular lesions are common in intravenous drug users (IVDUs).
- The Eustachian valve, near the tricuspid valve, can rarely become infected.
- Eustachian valve endocarditis is an under-recognized complication of Staphylococcus bacteraemia in IVDUs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis with secondary Eustachian valve seeding in an IVDU.
- To review the literature on rare Eustachian valve endocarditis in IVDUs.
Main Methods:
- Case presentation of an IVDU with infective endocarditis.
- Transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis.
- Literature review of Eustachian valve endocarditis.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with tricuspid valve endocarditis.
- Secondary seeding of the Eustachian valve was identified.
- Literature review confirmed the rarity and diagnostic challenges.
Conclusions:
- Eustachian valve endocarditis is a rare but potential complication in IVDUs.
- Transesophageal imaging is crucial for diagnosing this condition.
- Increased awareness is needed for this under-recognized entity.
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