The incidence of infection associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is rising at a rate faster than that of the number of implants. CIED infections typically require complete device and lead removal. The prevalence of vegetations is high in patients with infective indications who are referred for lead extraction. Because of the risk of hemodynamically significant pulmonary...

This case series reports our early experience with a minimally invasive percutaneous method of safely removing large vegetations during lead extraction in septic cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). Debate exists concerning the management of vegetations involving these devices. Lead extraction is mandated for infections, but vegetations may embolize, causing complications. Surgical de...

Abnormal echocardiographic findings in seven cases of bioprosthetic valve endocarditis were confirmed in six at operation. The echocardiograms showed three cases with thickening and increased echo intensity (group 1) and four (group 2) in which vegetations were seen initially without either of the two features in group 1. Two patients in group 1 had vegetations, the causative organism being a s...

Eighty-seven patients with the clinical syndrome of infective endocarditis were examined by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of echocardiographically detected vegetative lesions. Group 1 consisted of 47 patients with one or more vegetations. Group 2 consisted of 40 patients without evidence of vegetations. Group ...

Although 2DE is considered the most sensitive method for detecting vegetations in infective endocarditis, the independent clinical significance of these vegetations continues to be debated. To further examine this, we identified 74 patients who were diagnosed as having infective endocarditis over a 54-month period. The 50 patients who underwent 2DE examination form the basis of this report. Def...

OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in predicting embolic events (EEs) in a large group of patients with definite endocarditis according to the Duke criteria, including silent embolism. BACKGROUND The value of echocardiography in predicting embolism in patients with endocarditis remains controversial. Some studies reported an increas...

BACKGROUND Transesophageal echocardiography is superior to transthoracic echocardiography in detecting left-sided valvular vegetations. There are no data on the value of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of infected transvenous permanent pacemakers. METHODS AND RESULTS Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 10 patients for whom there was clinical s...

OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in predicting embolic events (EEs) in a large group of patients with definite endocarditis according to the Duke criteria, including silent embolism. BACKGROUND The value of echocardiography in predicting embolism in patients with endocarditis remains controversial. Some studies reported an incre...

BACKGROUND The pathophysiology of infective endocarditis involves a pathogen/host tissue interaction, leading to formation of infected thrombotic vegetations. Annexin V is a ligand of phosphatidylserines exposed by activated platelets and apoptotic cells. Because vegetations are platelet-fibrin clots in which platelet proaggregant activity is enhanced by bacterial colonization, we investigated ...