Bartonella henselae endocarditis of percutaneously implanted pulmonary valve: a case report

Abstract

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) has revolutionized the management of right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction after repaired congenital heart disease. The technology is considered to be safe, with a relatively low complication rate. Infection is one of the described complications of PPVI, and to date five cases of culture-positive infective endocarditis of percutaneously implanted pulmonary valve have been reported worldwide. Herein is reported the first ever case of culture-negative endocarditis of a percutaneously implanted pulmonary valve, caused by Bartonella henselae, five years after implantation in a 15-year-old patient with a repaired truncus arteriosus.