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Recurrent Infective Endocarditis With Recurrent Intravenous Drug Use: Illustrating the High Complexity of Surgical

Haris Patail1, Yasser Radwan1, Hasan Ahmad1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports
|June 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Managing infective endocarditis in intravenous drug users presents complex challenges. This case highlights the difficult decisions clinicians face, including surgical intervention and new aspiration techniques.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Infective endocarditis (IE) management in patients who inject drugs (PWID) is complex.
  • Treatment decisions are complicated by psychosocial, socioeconomic, medical, and legal factors.
  • Percutaneous mechanical aspiration is a new adjunctive tool, adding complexity.

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