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[Myocardial infarction in infective endocarditis]
S do C Jorge1, C A Arêas, M Shibata
1Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo.
Arquivos Brasileiros De Cardiologia
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Infective endocarditis in patients with heart disease is challenging. Despite negative blood cultures, diagnosis was confirmed, requiring surgery, with mixed outcomes including one death and one survivor with heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Chronic valvular heart disease and myocardial infarction present diagnostic challenges.
- Infective endocarditis is a serious complication in patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions.
Observation:
- Two patients with valvular heart disease and myocardial infarction presented with fever.
- Petechiae and valvular involvement raised suspicion for infective endocarditis, despite negative blood cultures.
Findings:
- Echocardiographic, surgical, and pathological findings confirmed infective endocarditis.
- Both patients required emergency cardiac surgery due to hemodynamic instability and poor response to antibiotics.
Implications:
- Infective endocarditis requires prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention in hemodynamically unstable patients.
- Outcomes can be severe, with significant mortality and morbidity, even after successful treatment.