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Review
. 2024 May;40(Suppl 1):40-46.
doi: 10.1007/s12055-023-01616-2. Epub 2023 Nov 6.

Systemic embolization in infective endocarditis

Henrik Agerup Kildahl  1   2 , Evelyn Lauvstad Brenne  1 , Håvard Dalen  2   3 , Alexander Wahba  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Systemic embolization in infective endocarditis

Henrik Agerup Kildahl et al. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2024 May.

Abstract

Embolism is a common complication in infective endocarditis which may lead to serious complications, such as stroke, intestinal ischemia, and peripheral embolization. A comprehensive literature search was performed and the registry at our centre, including 390 cases of infective endocarditis, diagnosed between 2010 and 2020, was investigated. Large registries show that 20-40% of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) are affected by embolism. In many instances, embolism is present already at the time of diagnosis. The rate of embolism during the hospital stay in our data was 11%. However, only 2% developed clinical embolism during or following surgery. According to recent guidelines, previous embolism, and the presence of vegetations > 10 mm present an indication for surgical treatment. Routine imaging revealed non-symptomatic cerebral embolism in 8.5% of surgical patients. However, it is not clear whether detection of non-symptomatic embolism and consecutive surgical treatment improves the prognosis of infective endocarditis.

Keywords: Cardiothoracic surgery; Infective endocarditis; Systemic embolization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interestThe authors state no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Transthoracal echocardiographic imaging of a mitral valve endocarditis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Transthoracal echocardiography of a tricuspid valve endocarditis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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