Echocardiographic features of mitral obstruction due to bacterial endocarditis

We describe a patient with mitral valvular obstruction due to vegetative endocarditis. The diagnosis was made before surgery by M-mode and two-dimensional echo-cardiograms, which revealed a mass of echoes obstructing the mitral orifice. This was confirmed subsequently at surgery. Both modes of echocardiography are of value in the noninvasive diagnosis of mitral valvular obstruction due to vegetative endocarditis, a condition which may be amenable to surgery for valvular replacement.