Mural vegetation in left ventricular apex caused by Staphylococcus aureus

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2021 Jan 1;32(1):161-162. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivaa224.

Abstract

A 77-year-old male on chronic haemodialysis was admitted for repeated episodes of stroke and a high fever. The patient's blood culture was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and echocardiogram results revealed moderate mitral valve regurgitation, small masses in the left atrial appendage and a 20-mm mobile, spherical structure attached to the apical cavity of the left ventricle. Surgery was conducted to successfully excise these masses and pathological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. The attachment of mobile, spherical vegetation to the apex of the left ventricle is a rare manifestation of infective endocarditis.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; Infective endocarditis; Left ventricle; Mural vegetation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Echocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*