Teddy bear in the heart.
In a patient with native aortic valve endocarditis, transoesphageal echocardiography yielded a teddy bear appearance which is not reported so far. A perivalvular abscess (right ear), the superior vena cava in cross section (left ear) and the dilated (post-stenotic) aortic root (face) made up the teddy bear. This was not a cuddlesome toy but an ominous sign. The genesis of perivalvular abscess as well as the role of transoesphageal echocardiography in its diagnosis and treatment are briefly reviewed.
Krishnamoorthy
K Mahadevan
KM
Department of cardiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India. saikm@sctimst.ker.nic.in
Krishnamanohar
S Rema
SR
D000328:Adult; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male