Use of echocardiography in infectious endocarditis
Storozhakov, G.I.; Kasatova, T.B.; Butkevich, O.M.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 52(10): 63-65
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 7444786 Document Number: 164910
Parallel echocardiographic and clinical examinations of 16 patients with infectious endocarditis were done. Signs of vegetations were discovered on the echocardiograms in 1/2 of the patients; this was confirmed on autopsy in 3 and, during operation, in 2 patients. In all the patients of that group, the bacterial process did not respond to antibiotics used; progressing circulatory insufficiency was noted. In 2 patients, a rupture of the aortal valve leaf was revealed on the echocardiograms. The possibility of intravital diagnosis of such a condition enables one to resort in due time to surgical treatment.