Off-pump tricuspid valve replacement for severe infective endocarditis

A 30-year-old man who is a heroin addict was diagnosed with uncontrolled tricuspid valve endocarditis and repeated lung abscesses. He underwent tricuspid valvectomy for the endocarditis. After surgery the patient had severe tricuspid regurgitation and hypoxemia develop. Due to severe tricuspid regurgitation-induced ventricular distension and persistent low cardiac output, reimplantation of the tricuspid valve was planned for 2 weeks after the first operation. To avoid lung injury caused by the cardiopulmonary bypass and to preserve right ventricular function, a self-made superior and inferior vena cava shunt was connected to the pulmonary artery. The tricuspid valve was implanted without cardiopulmonary bypass.     

INFECTED VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT

This paper reports a case of recurrent septic pulmonary emboli resulting from bacterial endocarditis on a ventricular septal defect. This was managed by the removal of vegetations, resection of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve, closure of the ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary embolectomy. The literature regarding the incidence and mortality of bacterial endocarditis on ventricular septal defects, and the management of the infected tricuspid valve, Is reviewed. The patient remains well two and a half years after surgery.     

Avoiding the pump in tricuspid valve endocarditis--vegetectomy under inflow occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of tricuspid valve endocarditis (TVE) ranges from vegetectomy to valve replacement with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), accompanied by risks of systemic and lung complications. We present our experience with tricuspid valve vegetectomy under inflow occlusion without CPB. METHODS: Between July 1998 and July 2001, seven patients with a mean age of 26 years underwent tricuspid valve vegetectomy under vena caval inflow occlusion (VCIO). Five patients were intravenous drug users. None of them had left-sided heart valve involvement. The clinical indications for operating were recurrent septic pulmonary emboli with significant bilateral lung infiltrates and intractable infection with signs of severe systemic sepsis, despite treatment with appropriate intravenous antibiotics for a mean duration of 126 hours. The echocardiographic indication was very large localized >1 cm vegetations in all patients. Six patients had methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus and one had streptococcus viridans positive blood cultures. Five patients had postoperative high volume veno-venous hemofiltration (HVVF). RESULTS: There were no deaths. VCIO time did not exceed 2 minutes (range time was 45 seconds to 2 minutes). All patients had resolution of sepsis and improvement in respiratory status within 48 hours. Five patients had trivial and two moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Six patients were discharged home within 14 days with no long-term sequelae. One patient required long-term dialysis for renal failure. One patient required a late thoracotomy for drainage of a loculated empyema. CONCLUSIONS: Tricuspid valve vegetectomy can be performed safely under VCIO. HVVF promotes removal of inflammatory mediators, thus improving recovery.     

Partial replacement of the tricuspid valve by mitral homografts in acute endocarditis

Background. Seven patients with acute tricuspid endocarditis underwent partial replacement of the tricuspid valve using mitral homograft tissue. Valve function was evaluated at midterm.

Methods. Operative indications were uncontrolled sepsis in all cases associated with heart failure symptoms in 3 patients and septic pulmonary emboli in 2 patients. These patients were referred to our institution after a course of antibiotic treatment ranging from 7 to 12 weeks. Lesions found at the level of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve were vegetations and rupture of more than half of the marginal cords in all patients. Vegetations were also found on the posterior leaflet in 5 patients. In all instances the septal leaflet was free of lesions. The aortic valve was involved in 4 patients and the pulmonary valve in 1 patient. All patients underwent resection of the anterior and posterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve with their corresponding papillary muscles leaving the septal leaflet in place. Replacement of the tricuspid valve was performed through a right longitudinal atrial access, using the anterior leaflet of a mitral homograft alone in 3 patients and the anterior leaflet with part of posterior leaflet in 4 patients. Associated procedures included aortic valve replacement by a homograft (n = 4) and pulmonary valve reconstruction (n = 1).

Results. No hospital deaths are reported. One late death, at 16 months, is reported after reoperation due to recurrent aortic valve endocarditis. At midterm (mean follow-up, 30 months) patients had excellent functional status and normal valvular function during echocardiographic studies.

Conclusions. We conclude that when the degree of tricuspid valve destruction prevents repair, partial homograft replacement can be used as an extension of the already existing reconstructive techniques, with excellent functional results.     

Treatment of destructive aortic valve endocarditis with the Freestyle Aortic Root Bioprosthesis

BACKGROUND: Successful treatment of destructive aortic valve endocarditis with annular abscess formation requires extensive surgical debridement and reconstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and aortic root. Homograft aortic roots are the conduits of choice, but because they are not available in all cases, alternative conduits are needed. METHODS: Owing to its features, which are comparable to those of homografts, the Freestyle aortic root xenograft was used in 10 consecutive patients aged between 32 and 77 years. All patients had extensive abscess formation, 5 presented with prosthetic valve endocarditis, 2 had additional mitral valve endocarditis requiring partial leaflet resection and reconstruction, 1 patient had an additional fistula into the right atrium, and 1 required coronary bypass. One patient developed a septic ventricular septal defect and fistula into the right atrium with tricuspid valve endocarditis. RESULTS: None of the patients required reoperation for bleeding. Two (20%) patients died in the postoperative period, 1 due to multiorgan failure, and 1 due to preexisting invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. At autopsy, neither had evidence of intrapericardial hematoma or suture dehiscence. One patient died 13 months postoperatively without clinical signs of valve dysfunction or recurrent endocarditis. All other patients are well at 12 to 42 months after surgery. Clinical examination and echocardiography at the most recent follow-up showed no signs of valve dysfunction, recurrent fistulation, or endocarditis. CONCLUSIONS: The Freestyle aortic root appears to be an acceptable alternative to homografts in the treatment of severe endocarditis. Long-term valve durability in younger patients, however, remains to be determined.     

Candida parapsilosis tricuspid native valve endocarditis: 3-year follow-up after surgical treatment

In non-addicted patients, several states such as alcoholism, previous valvular heart disease or prosthetic valve replacement, immunodeficiency states, prolonged intravenous hyperalimentation, permanent pacemakers, and some congenital heart diseases can provide the predisposing factors for tricuspid valve endocarditis. It is an extremely rare occurrence in patients with normal native cardiac valves. In this report, we present a case of a 67-year-old woman with tricuspid native valve endocarditis related to Candida parapsilosis which is a very rare cause of infective endocarditis and carries a high mortality risk. An operation was indicated for the patient due to persistent enlarging vegetation on tricuspid valve, severe tricuspid regurgitation, septic pulmonary emboli and finally uncompensated respiratory and heart failure. She underwent tricuspid valve replacement with bioprothesis three years ago and now she is in a satisfactory condition without any medical treatment.     

Left ventricular-right atrial shunt due to infective endocarditis--report of a case

Acquired left ventricular-right atrial shunt is a very rare cardiac disease. Infective endocarditis, cardiac operative procedures, and thoracic trauma were reported as origins. We report a case of a patient with left ventricular-right atrial shunt due to infective endocarditis. A 53-year-old male who had aortic regurgitation due to infective endocarditis developed suddenly severe congestive heart failure. Two-dimensional and pulsed doppler echocardiography demonstrated left ventricular-right atrial shunt. Emergency operation was done. The fistula was found through the atrioventricular membranous septum. The position from the left view was just below the commissure between the right coronary cusp and non coronary cusp and the opening position from the right view was just above the septal leaflet of tricuspid valve. Aortic valve replacement and direct closure of fistula were done and patient's recovery was uneventful. Case reports of left ventricular-right atrial shunt due to infective endocarditis have been rarely seen, most of which were followed by poor prognosis. Surgical intervention in acute phase is recommended.     

Pacemaker infection developed one month after the surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis

A 57-year-old man underwent mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty for mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Pacemaker implantation was conducted because of postoperative sick sinus syndrome 2 months after the operation. One year later, the patient was readmitted to the hospital because of high fever. Echocardiography showed 2 vegetations of 10 mm in diameter attached to the mitral mechanical valve. No vegetations were detected on the tricuspid valve or the pacemaker leads. Mitral valve re-replacement was urgently performed under the diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. One month after the reoperation, pacemaker infection developed in spite of suitable infection control by daily intravenous injection of sensitive antibiotics. We proceeded to place a temporary pacing wire and extracted the entire permanent pacing system. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted 5 days later. The patient was discharged on the 62th postoperative day without recurrence of infection.     

Infectious tricuspid valve endocarditis in a chronic hemodialysis patient; report of a case

We report a rare case of isolated infectious tricuspid valve endocarditis. A 67-year-old male patient with chronic renal failure complained of fever up to 38 degrees C after hemodialysis. WBC was not elevated, but CRP was increased. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography for investigating his chest discomfort demonstrated a large 13 x 25 mm vegetation on the tricuspid valve. Blood culture was negative. The tricuspid valve was replaced with a bioprosthetic valve. The extensive vegetation was found in the anterior, septal and posterior cusps and diagnosed as infectious endocarditis pathologically. The postoperative course was uneventful. WBC and CRP remained normal 9 months after surgery and no signs of recurrence were observed. The cause of the infectious endocarditis seemed to be the insertion of a double lumen catheter for dialysis or the puncture of the arteriovenous shunt.     

Infective endocarditis at the tricuspid valve following central venous catheterization

We report a case of infective endocarditis at the tricuspid valve attributed to central venous catheterization. The patient was a 35-year-old woman who had multiple septic emboli in her lung due to tricuspid valve endocarditis after successful treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. She also had right ileosacral arthritis. The case was closely related to catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. She was treated with intravenous administration of vancomycin and surgical removal of vegetation and tricuspid valvuloplasty. Since infective endocarditis can be a complication of central venous catheterization with high morbidity and mortality, maximal precautions to minimize the risk, early detection, and appropriate treatment of these complications are mandatory to improve patients outcome.     

A surgical technique of tricuspid valve repair for infective endocarditis using an autologous pericardium

We report a surgically treated case of tricuspid valve endocarditis. A 33-year-old man was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and active infective endocarditis associated with severe tricuspid regurgitation. Ultrasonic echocardiography (UCG) showed vegetations attached to the tricuspid valve. His blood culture was positive for Streptococcus oralis. Although intravenous antibiotics therapy was effective, chest computed tomography( CT) revealed multiple septic pulmonary enboli in right lung and UCG showed severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. So we performed tricuspid valve repair by reconstructing septal leaflet using an autologous pericardium, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene( ePTFE) artificial chordae and annuloplasty ring. The postoperative course was uneventful, without tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis. He has been free from any complication for over 8 months. This surgical technique of tricuspid valve repair with an autologous pericardium and ePTFE artificial chordae for infective endocarditis might be useful choice of procedure for patients with leaflet destruction, in particular for young patients because of less recurrence of infection, less chance of anticoagulant therapy and expected long uneventful course.     

A case report of definitive repair for pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum associated with aortic valve regurgitation

A successful definitive repair for a 10-year-old girl with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA.IVS) associated with aortic valve regurgitation is described. The Fontan type repair was not indicated in this case because of the left ventricular dysfunction due to aortic valve regurgitation and inadequate size of the pulmonary artery. Therefore, right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, Glen shunt and aortic valve replacement were performed despite severe hypoplastic right ventricle (RVEDVI; 33% of normal) and restrictive tricuspid valve (TVD; 48% of normal). Postoperatively, good result was obtained. There is general agreement that biventricular repair could be safely performed using Glenn shunt, when RVEDVI is above 40% of normal and TVD is above 50% of normal in a patient with PA.IVS. Moreover recently including our case, several successful repairs for PA.IVS with more hypoplastic right ventricle and tricuspid valve have been reported. So it is suggested that the right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and Glenn shunt can be reliably applied for PA.IVS with more hypoplastic right ventricle and more restrictive tricuspid valve. To our knowledge, this is the first successful report of definitive repair (right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, Glenn shunt and AVR) for PA.IVS associated with AR.     

A case of tricuspid infective endocarditis in a drug addict

This report describes a successful operative case of tricuspid infective endocarditis in a drug addict. A 24-year-old man with a history of drug addiction (6 months) complained of general fatigue and high fever. Echocardiography showed a large vegetation attached to the tricuspid valve and severe tricuspid regurgitation. Blood cultures revealed septicemia due to methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. He was treated for about 1 week with intravenous antibiotics. However, subsequent severe heart failure necessitated emergency operation. The tricuspid valve was replaced with Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis because of severe destruction of the tricuspid valve. The postoperative course was uneventful and he has remained free from endocarditis for 15 months after surgery.     

Right-sided bacterial endocarditis. New concepts in the treatment of the uncontrollable infection

Our experience with 25 patients with right-sided bacterial endocarditis is described; 23 were heroin addicts. The clinical manifestations of right-sided endocarditis are primarily related to septic pulmonary embolism.When the infection was due to gram-positive cocci, antibiotics always cured the patient. However, if the infection was due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to therapy, excision of the infected tricuspid or tricuspid and pulmonary valves without prosthetic replacement effected a cure. Nine out of 10 long-term survivors treated in this manner have had no significant hemodynamic difficulties.Antibiotic therapy must be limited to six weeks or less, because if the infection persists beyond this period it may also spread to the left side of the heart, where valve excision without replacement is impossible.     

Thromboembolic complications of ventriculoatrial shunts

Ventriculoatrial shunts were first developed in the 1940s and shortly thereafter became the treatment of choice for noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Although the mortality rate for noncommunicating hydrocephalus has fallen from 80% to 20%, ventriculoatrial shunts continue to have major life-threatening complications such as thromboemboli, infection, and shunt malfunction. This report presents the cases of two adult hydrocephalic patients who developed pulmonary emboli and sepsis after being treated with ventriculoatrial shunts. One patient, whose complications were not recognized until late in the course, died of pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure despite removal of the shunt and aggressive medical therapy. Complications in the second patient were discovered early, the shunt was removed, and intravenous antibiotics were used for weeks to combat sepsis and bacterial endocarditis.     

Septic coronary embolism in a deceptive case of presumed isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis

A 46‐year‐old female presented with native tricuspid valve endocarditis complicated by a stroke with a hemorrhagic component. There was no evidence of intracardiac shunt nor left‐sided valve involvement. Delayed surgery was planned to allow neurologic recovery, however, the patient developed an ST‐elevation myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest from an occluded right posterior ventricular branch of the right coronary artery from a septic embolism. Repeat imaging demonstrated new aortic valve vegetation involving the right coronary cusp. This case highlights a unique sequence of events in a patient initially presenting with presumed isolated tricuspid valve vegetation.     

Triple-valve treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis occurring 20 years after implantation of a Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis in the aortic valve

A 68-year-old woman had undergone aortic valve replacement and open commissurotomy 20 years previously. At the beginning of 2008, fever, cold, and heart failure symptoms were noted. On blood culture, Streptococcus oralis was detected three times. Surgery was performed under a diagnoses of prosthetic valve endocarditis in the aortic valve, mitral stenosis and insufficiency, and tricuspid insufficiency. Techniques consisted of additional aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, and tricuspid annuloplasty. Vegetation was macroscopically and pathologically observed in the extirpated Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis that had been placed in the aortic valve. There was no postoperative recurrent inflammatory response. The patient was discharged 32 days after surgery.     

A case report of surgical treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis in tricuspid position

A case of right sided prosthetic valve endocarditis in tricuspid position was presented. This 38-year-old male underwent tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) with SJM (31 mm) prosthetic valve because of tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by staphylococcus epidermidis five years ago. At the beginning of this year, 1989, he was admitted with complain of high fever and bloody sputa. Doppler color imaging showed prosthetic valve was stenotic whose pressure gradient was 16 mmHg in peak pressure gradient, but vegetation was not identified. Following with gastrectomy perhaps due to AGML, re-TVR was done with Carpentier-Edwards vale (31 mm). He was discharged without any problems. It seems important to determine the timing of re-operation before leading any complications.     

Simultaneous Aortic and Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis due to Complication of Sinus of Valsalva Rupture

We experienced a case of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, and this resulted in simultaneous aortic and tricuspid valve endocarditis through a shunt. The echocardiography showed a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to the right atrium with a shunt. The aortic non-coronary cusp was fibro-thickened with vegetation. Vegetations of the septal leaflet and the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve were also found. The blood culture grew Enterococcus garllinarum. We replaced both tricuspid and aortic valve with successful surgical result.     

Intra-atrial vegetation removal in a 14-month-old boy complicated with postoperative infective endocarditis and left middle cerebral artery embolism

We report a case of the intra-atrial vegetation removal under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in a case complicated with left middle cerebral artery embolism caused by postoperative infective endocarditis. The patient was a 14-month-old boy. Two months after intracardiac repair for a complex congenital heart disease, he presented with low-grade fever and was placed on oral antibiotics. A month later an echocardiography revealed 2 vegetations on the tricuspid valve. Although the vegetations became smaller with intravenous antibiotics, right hemiplegia was noted 5 weeks later. Brain CT and MR-angiography demonstrated left middle cerebral artery embolism. For fear of another embolism caused by a remaining movable vegetation on the tricuspid valve, intra-atrial vegetation removal under CPB was performed 5 days after cerebral infarction. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was utilized to locate the vegetation and confirm its removal. His postoperative course was uneventful without a recurrence of cerebral infarction or bleeding. He was weaned from the ventilator on postoperative day (POD) 1, started to move the right extremities on POD 5 and was discharged home on POD 66.