Quadricuspid aortic valve complicated with infective endocarditis: report of a case

Surg Today. 2014 Dec;44(12):2388-91. doi: 10.1007/s00595-014-0844-1. Epub 2014 Feb 5.

Abstract

Congenital quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare cardiac malformation with an unknown risk of infective endocarditis. We report a case of quadricuspid aortic valve complicated with infective endocarditis. A 53-year-old Japanese woman was hospitalized with leg edema and a fever of unknown origin. Corynebacterium striatum was detected in the blood culture. Echocardiography demonstrated a quadricuspid aortic valve with vegetation and severe functional regurgitation. The condition was diagnosed as a quadricuspid aortic valve with infective endocarditis, for which surgery was performed. The quadricuspid aortic valve had three equal-sized cusps and one smaller cusp (type B according to Hurwitz classification). We dissected the vegetation and infectious focus and implanted a mechanical valve. Following the case report, we review the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve / abnormalities*
  • Aortic Valve / surgery*
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / etiology
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / surgery*
  • Corynebacterium Infections
  • Endocarditis / diagnosis
  • Endocarditis / etiology*
  • Endocarditis / microbiology
  • Endocarditis / surgery*
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome