Infective endocarditis affecting both systemic and pulmonary circulations predisposed by a ventricular septal defect

Abstract

A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital presenting persisting fever. An echocardiographic examination showed severe aortic and mitral valve regurgitation with moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Small left-to-right shunt through the ventricula septal defect was identified. Vegetation was also detected on the tricuspid, mitral, and aortic valves. At one month after admission, the patient showed sudden onset of headache and abdominal pain. A computed tomographic scan demonstrated cerebral and splenic infarction. A pulmonary perfusion scintigram demonstrated perfusion defects in left-S1 and right-S6 regions. At 4 months after admission, as operation was performed. The aortic valve was replaced with a #23 mm CarboMedics prosthesis and the mitral valve with a #29 mm Carbo Medics prosthesis. Tricuspid valve plasty was performed, with closure of He laceration and perforation of the anterior leaflet combined with a commissuroplasty, according to Kay’s method. Ventricular septal defect was closed with a bovine pericardial patch. She was discharged at 19 days after the operation, and is leading a good life. Pervasion of the organism seemed to be initiated from the mitral valve which was conveyed by the blood stream to the aortic valve, and to the tricuspid valve through the ventricula septal defect Left heart evaluation may be important in cases with infective endocarditis and ventricula septal defect.