Echocardiography in detecting implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead endocarditis: case report

Acta Clin Croat. 2011 Mar;50(1):121-4.

Abstract

Lead endocarditis is an infrequent but potentially lethal complication of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. We report a case of a 53-year-old man with ICD who was admitted to our hospital because of fever, chills, shivering, headache and malaise. Transthoracic echocardiography detected a structure highly suspect of vegetation located on the ICD lead. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a 20x12 mm mobile vegetation attached to the ICD lead in the right atrium. The infection was caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), which was isolated from blood cultures. Treatment consisted of surgical removal of the ICD lead and placement of new epicardial ICD leads. Three years afterwards, the patient remained asymptomatic. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported from Croatia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / etiology
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis*