Echocardiographic evaluation of prosthetic valve endocarditis

Although prosthetic valve endocarditis has a relatively low incidence, it is associated with a high risk for mortality and morbidity. Periannular complications such as abscess formation, pseudoaneurysm, and fistulas are common in prosthetic valve endocarditis, indicating a poor prognosis. Echocardiography is a very important diagnostic tool in cases of suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis and transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography should be performed without delay. If the initial echocardiographic examination is inconclusive and the clinical suspicion of infective endocarditis remains high, repeat echocardiography is necessary with an interspersion of 7 to 10 days.

Keywords: Echocardiography, endocarditis, bacterial/diagnosis, heart valve prosthesis; prosthesis-related infections.