Abstract 13386: Pulmonary Complications in Right Sided Endocarditis

Right-sided endocarditis (RSE) is a life-threatening infectious disease with increasing incidence; there is scant data, however, regarding pulmonary complications. Methods: we assessed patients referred for TEE with suspected RSE. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography were performed, and thorax computed tomography (CT) undertaken within 2 weeks of TEE. Follow-up was 1 year, and endpoints cardiac surgery and death. Results: 92 patients had evidence RSE. Most patients were female (58%), aged 45 ±18 years old. All patients except 7 (8%) had positive blood cultures, mainly staphylococcus (43 %), followed by gram - (15%) and fungal species (10%), with most infections catheter related (84%). Vegetations were large (21±13 mm) and cardiac thrombosis frequent (Table 1). Thorax CT was undertaken in 46 patients (50%), with contrast in 28 (60%). Pulmonary findings were septic emboli in 28 patients (60%), mainly with associated cavitation (11 patients). Staphylococcus was the most common infec...