Aortic valve endocarditis caused by Salmonella species

J Clin Ultrasound. 1999 Jan;27(1):45-8. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0096(199901)27:1<45::aid-jcu8>3.0.co;2-d.

Abstract

We report a case of aortic valve endocarditis caused by an uncommon pathogen, Salmonella species. Transthoracic echocardiography proved to be inadequate to show the valvular destruction. Transesophageal echocardiography was instrumental in establishing the diagnosis of endocarditis by documenting aortic vegetations with attendant tissue damage extending beyond the valve leaflets (i.e., subvalvular and perivalvular damage). The findings were anatomically confirmed at surgery, which also revealed an aortic root-right ventricular fistula and several aortic ring abscesses. Early implementation of transesophageal echocardiography is strongly recommended in patients with suspected endocarditis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Heart Valve Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Valve Diseases / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Salmonella / isolation & purification
  • Salmonella Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Salmonella Infections / microbiology