Cardiac conduction abnormalities preceding transoesophageal echocardiographic evidence of perivalvar extension of infection in a case of salmonella prosthetic valve endocarditis

摘要

A 59 year old African-American man developed complete heart block in associ- ation with Salmonella enteritidis pros- thetic valve endocarditis. Severe cardiac conduction abnormalities signalled the presence of perivalvar extension of infec- tion before development of evidence of abscess by transoesophageal echocardio- graphy. Cardiac conduction temporarily returned after debridement and aortic homograft placement. This case empha- sises the value of electrocardiographic monitoring in the detection of perivalvar extension of infection complicating infec- tive endocarditis, even in the era of sophisticated imaging modalities.