title: Usefulness of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in particular clinical settings: a case of aorto-cavitary fistula in periprosthetic aortic valve abscess.
abstract: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) due to staphylococcus aureus is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Paravalvular abscess formation is a common complication of PVE at the aortic position, but fistula formation is rarely seen. The transesophageal echocardiography is the "gold-standard" exam to detect PVE. We present a case of a 69-year-old patient with prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis, paravalvular abscess, and fistula in right atrium, where the diagnosis was made with three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, without transesophageal evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, SS Trinità Borgomanero Hospital, ASL No, Novara, Italy. stemaffe@libero.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffè
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zenone
authors.forename: Pierfranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dellavesa
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paffoni
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paino
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Signorotti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cucchi
authors.forename: Nicolò Franchetti
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Parravicini
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001159:Arterio-Arterial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology