Tricuspid valve endocarditis with septic pulmonary emboli in a drug addict

Abstract

Presented is a case of a young, polytoxicomaniac male with a history of intravenous drug abuse. He arrived at our department in a septic state with fever and showed signs of rightsided decompensated cardiac insufficiency. The patient tested positive for hepatitis C, and blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. A thoracic computed tomographic scan revealed bilateral, multiple septic pulmonary emboli. Transesophageal echocardiography disclosed large mobile vegetations on the tricuspid valve associated with severe regurgitation. The infected tricuspid valve was replaced with a mechanical heart valve, and the patient recovered uneventfully from surgery. © 2012 The Editorial Committee of Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. All rights reserved.