Keywords
Endocarditis, Paradoxical, Patent Foramen Ovale
Disciplines
Cardiology | Cardiovascular System
Abstract
A 36 -year old woman IV drug abuser admitted with Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis (RSIE) as demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiogram. Patient was admitted 8 weeks later with recurrence of symptoms, moreover signs of systemic embolization were noted. Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiograms revealed tricuspid valve vegetation, severe tricuspid regurgitation, left atrial mass, Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), severely dilated right atrium and prominent Chiari's network. Systemic embolization included brain and Left iliacus abscesses. Patent Foramen ovale is the proposed mechanism leading to extensive systemic embolization in the present case.