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Subtle infective endocarditis and congenital cardiac disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2005

Andrew C. Chatzis
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
George Saroglou
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Nursing School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Nicolas M. Giannopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
George E. Sarris
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract

Congenital cardiac disease is recognized as a major predisposing substrate for infective endocarditis. We present three cases of unanticipated intraoperative discovery of vegetations in patients with congenital cardiac malformations without preoperative clinical, laboratory or echocardiographic evidence of infective endocarditis, and their successful treatment. The relevant literature is reviewed, with emphasis of the need to maintain a high index of suspicion for the presence of endocarditis during repair of congenital cardiac lesions.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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