Severe, rapidly evolving infective endocarditis as a complication of elective surgery: a case report

Abstract

Objective: Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis is a serious disease and often affects previously healthy or minimally calcified heart valves in the hospital setting. We report a case of rapidly evolving Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in a 64-year-old diabetic man with minimally calcified aortic and mitral valves, in the postoperative period of elective abdominal surgery. Сase Presentation: A 64-year-old diabetic, morbidly obese and hypertensive man was admitted on May 14, 2024 to undergo an umbilical herniorrhaphy. He suffered from a rapidly evolving Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in the postoperative period of elective abdominal surgery. S.aureus bacteremia was related to temporary intravenous lines, which were removed. The patient evolved with hypotension and confusion, requiring intensive care. He died 2 weeks later of ventilator- associated pneumonia. Conclusion: Intravenous lines may be the source of bacteremia and sepsis, S. aureus is one of the most common agents, and may seed heart valves, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms are crucial to establish endocarditis diagnosis.

Keywords

• infective endocarditis
• staphylococcus aureus; complications
• elective surgery
• case report