title: Ruptured sinus of valsalva and complete atrioventricular block complicating fulminant course of infective endocarditis: a case report and literature review.
abstract: Patients with infective endocarditis usually developed persistent fever and heart failure, especially when the valve structures are invaded and destroyed. Persistent bacteremia often leads to severe sepsis or overwhelming septic shock. Septic emboli from the vegetation will possibly result in systemic thromboembolism with multiple organ infarction. Patients with infective endocarditis have been reported to present with either ruptured sinus of Valsalva or complete atrioventricular block. However, both of these serious complications occurring in a single patient is rare. In this case report, we present a 54-year-old man with a previous history of alcoholic cirrhosis and chronic renal failure who suffered from a fulminant course of infective endocarditis. Simultaneously, ruptured sinus of Valsalva and complete atrioventricular block further complicated the preexisting septic shock and multiple organ failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Chau-Chyun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Kun-Tai
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shuo-Tsan
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kai-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wen-Chol
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Voon
authors.forename: Sheng-Hsiung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Wen-Ter
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*