Incidental Finding of Subannular Perfused Aortic Root Abscess

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery
• Infective Endocarditis

Background:

• Aortic valve stenosis is a common valvular heart disease often requiring surgical intervention.
• Delayed surgical management of aortic valve stenosis can lead to severe complications.
• Subannular abscesses are rare but serious complications of infective endocarditis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of a large subannular abscess complicating aortic valve stenosis.
• To highlight the importance of timely surgical intervention for severe aortic valve disease.
• To describe the successful surgical management of aortic root abscess and endocarditis.

Main Methods:

• Transthoracic echocardiography for initial diagnosis of aortic valve stenosis.
• Cardiac catheterization and computed tomography (CT) scan for detailed pre-operative assessment.
• Urgent aortic root and ascending aorta replacement with a tissue valve.

Main Results:

• A huge subannular perfused abscess and pericardial effusion were discovered.
• The patient underwent successful aortic root and ascending aorta replacement.
• Intraoperative findings confirmed active aortic root and valve endocarditis.

Conclusions:

• Subannular abscesses can occur as a complication of severe aortic valve stenosis and endocarditis.
• Prompt surgical intervention is crucial for managing such complex cardiac emergencies.
• Successful outcomes are achievable with timely and appropriate surgical management.