title: Fungal endocarditis at the aortotomy site after aortic valve replacement.
abstract: This brief report presents a patient with fungal endocarditis involving the suture location in the ascending aorta after aortotomy to replace a stenotic aortic valve. It emphasizes the importance of expanding the diagnostic investigation for endocarditis beyond the prosthesis, which was normal in this case. It also reiterates the value of transesophageal echocardiography during the evaluation of prosthetic valves and reminds the echocardiographer to visualize the aortotomy site carefully.
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University School of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Sorrell
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Koutlas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ohl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome