Infective endocarditis in the era of intracardiac devices: an echocardiographic perspective.
Although the role of echocardiography is well established in the management of native valve and prosthetic valve endocarditis, the recent introduction of intracardiac devices, including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, closure devices, and ventricular assist devices, has expanded its utility. Echocardiography permits the direct imaging of valvular vegetations, and it allows for the identification of structural complications of endocarditis. It is useful for characterizing the hemodynamic consequences of the infection. It can also provide prognostic information concerning risk of embolization and/or need for cardiac surgery. This article reviews the roles of transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with native valve endocarditis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, and infections involving a variety of nonvalvular cardiovascular devices.
Jassal
Davinder S
DS
Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Weyman
Arthur E
AE
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity