Effectiveness of Multidetector Computed Tomography in Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

Abstract

Background: Redo aortic valve replacement for prosthetic valve endocarditis is a challenge for surgeons. Echocardiography is occasionally not an effective modality for the detection of infectious signs in prosthetic valve endocarditis. Case presentation: Herein, we report the case of a patient whose prosthetic valve endocarditis was detected by multidetector computed tomography and who successfully underwent redo aortic valve replacement. Preoperative echocardiography revealed no remarkable findings related to endocarditis such as perivalvular leakage or vegetation; however, multidetector computed tomography revealed a thickened right coronary cusp. Intraoperatively, the right coronary cusp was confirmed to be covered with thick infected tissue. The pathological findings revealed broad destruction due to infection of the right coronary cusp. Conclusion: Multidetector computed tomography was useful in detecting infectious signs in prosthetic valves.