Endocarditis- The Importance of Early Detection

Undetected Endocarditis - One Patient's Story

Ken developed endocarditis after heart valve replacement surgery. However, due to the insidious nature of fungal endocarditis, his cardiologist misinterpreted the early warning signs and attributed his symptoms as being only the residual effects of his cardiac surgery. Subsequently, endocarditis went undiagnosed for months. This was a sufficient amount of time for fungal vegetations to develop on the valve sending fungus throughout his body. By the time endocarditis was finally diagnosed, Ken had suffered from an acute cerebral hemorrhage resulting in permanent left sided hemiplegia. The fungus had entered his kidneys, spinal fluid, his brain, and completely destroyed vertebra in his cervical and lumbar spine.

Undetected Endocarditis - A Child's Tragedy

Sydney was a beautiful little 4-year-old girl who underwent a pulmonary valve replacement. She developed fungal endocarditis shortly after surgery with a very rare form of fungus. Once again cardiologists did not recognize the symptoms and this precious little girl went undiagnosed for nearly 5 months. By the time doctors recognized the symptoms of fungal endocarditis, the fungus had already done a substantial amount of damage to her tiny little heart. Sydney and her family fought long and hard to win the battle of fungal endocarditis. Sadly, the damage had already been done and the fungus had spread to her lungs causing a pulmonary embolism which took her short little life almost an entire year after her initial surgery.

The Importance of Early Detection

Endocarditis is a very serious disease which was nearly fatal before the development of antibiotics and antifungals. Although powerful antimicrobials are now available, unfortunately due to the insidious nature of endocarditis patients unknowingly may go untreated and serious complications can occur creating severe morbidity, stroke, infection of the spinal column (osteomyelitis), and sometimes death.

Often the first sign of infection presents from a vegetative emboli breaking off of the heart valve and traveling to the brain resulting in a life threatening stroke.

Treatment for endocarditis can be extremely difficult and the results are often unpredictable. Therefore, if a patient has risk factors for developing endocarditis it is incredibly important to be closely monitored by your physician and take appropriate prophylactic antibiotics while undergoing any dental work, respiratory or gastrointestinal surgery.

The best approach is prevention.