Infective endocarditis (IE) is one of the most challenging acute cardiovascular pathologies to manage. Embolic complications are common in IE, occurring in between 40–50% of all cases ( ). Manifestations include stroke (embolic, hemorrhagic), peripheral emboli (splenic, renal), pulmonary embolus, coronary artery embolism and vertebral involvement (osteomyelitis). The majority of these occur prior to definitive diagnosis of IE. Unsurprisingly, delays in diagnosis are associated with increased risk of embolic events ( ). Treatment with appropriately targeted antibiotics reduces the risk of further embolic events dramatically ( ).
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