P335 AORTIC VALVE INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS COMPLICATED BY SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY ACUTE TROMBOSIS

• Published in: European heart journal supplements 2022-05, Vol.24 (Supplement_C)
• Main Authors: Viele, A, Cuzzola, B, Porchetta, N, Paolone, P, Giannotti, G, Trivisonno, A, Pierro, A, Colavita, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1520-765X; 1554-2815
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/suac012.322

The infective endocarditis (IE) has a significant impact on mortality rate in the first year after diagnosis, despite the improvements in early diagnosis and therapy. Embolic complications cause worsening of patient’s prognosis and they occur in the 20–50% of cases, with a risk of new embolic events after the initiation of antibiotic therapy rated between 6 and 12%. Echocardiographic characterization of vegetation has an important role in the definition of the embolization risk, it is documented that vegetation with dimension more than 10 mm are at higher risk. Several characteristic of the patient (diabetes, previous embolization, atrial fibrillation) determine the increase of the embolization risk, as well as the initiation of antibiotic therapy. We describe the case of a 64 y.o. man with chronic coronary syndrome (previous PCI) and previous Bentall–De Bono intervention for ascending aorta aneurysm. Patient was under anticoagulant therapy with DOAC due to atrial fibrillation. He was admitted to the emergency department for intermittent fever during the last three months, dyspnea and fatigue. Blood test showed neutrophilic leukocytosis and increased value of inflammatory markers. Transthoracic echography revealed an hyperechoic image on the ventricular side of the aortic prosthesis. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis was confirmed with transesophageal echocardiography, and empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated. Cardiac surgeon suggested follow up and new evaluation after three weeks of therapy. Clinical course was complicated by acute abdomen. The CT exam revealed dilation of a distal tract of superior mesenteric artery (maximum axial diameter was 10 mm) associated with distal thrombosis extended for 6 mm. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed absence of the vegetation on aortic prosthesis previous documented. Therapy with intravenous infusion of unfractionated heparin was administrated for three weeks, but the control TC showed persistence of the thrombotic occlusion of superior mesenteric artery so the case was discussed with Vascular Surgery team. They decided to treat patient with embolization and aneurysmectomy surgery (cultures were negative). This clinical case demonstrates that embolic complication of infective endocarditis, even on proper antbiotic therapy and close monitorization, are unpredictable and can cause the worsening of patient’s clinical course.