Case report
A 61-year-old man was admitted to hospital for chills, myalgia and
anorexia evolving for two weeks. His past medical history was notable
for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and tobacco abuse. Laboratory
tests on admission showed an elevated C-reactive protein at 161 mg/dl, a
hyperleukocytosis at 17 000/mm3, elevated total and direct bilirubin
levels and liver enzyme alteration. Thoraco-abdominal CT-scan revealed
the presence of multiple bilateral pulmonary consolidations compatible
with lung abscess. Repeat blood cultures were positive for a
methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Transesophageal
echocardiogram (TEE) (Figure 1) showed the presence of a huge right
ventricular mass attached to the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve
associated with a moderate tricuspid regurgitation.
The most likely diagnosis was an infective tricuspid valve endocarditis
caused by MSSA, with a large vegetation and complicated by pulmonary
abscess. Intravenous antibiotic therapy with cefazoline (preferred to
flucloxacillin in the context of impaired liver enzymes) was initiated
and the patient was scheduled for an urgent surgery due to the risk of
massive pulmonary embolism.
Surgery under median sternotomy was preferred to a minimally invasive
approach due to the embolic risk associated with the Seldinger technique
required for peripheral venous cannulation. At the opening of the right
atrium, we discovered a giant lobulated mass attached to the anterior
leaflet of the tricuspid valve by a broad pedicle, near the
antero-septal commissure (Figure 2). The mass was removed, excising part
of the anterior leaflet (Figure 3). The defect was repaired by a bovine
pericardial patch and two artificial neochordae were passed to the free
margin of the pericardial patch and attached to the anterior papillary
muscle. The antero-septal commissure was closed by an edge-to-edge stich
and an annuloplasty using a 34 mm Carpentier-Edwards Physio Tricuspid
ring was performed.
Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated a good functional result on
the tricuspid valve, with trace residual tricuspid regurgitation without
stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient of 1.8 mmHg). The resected mass
was composed of fibrin deposition on microscopic examination, consistent
with an infectious vegetation. Culture of the vegetation revealed the
presence of MSSA and intravenous cefazoline was continued for 42 days
after surgery. The postoperative course was uneventful. The 3-month
follow-up assessment was satisfactory, showing an excellent tricuspid
valve function without signs of infection recurrence.