Dual Mechanism of Mitral Valve Injury: Additional Value of Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition and during its course several complications may occur, including embolic events, perivalvular extension and valvular destruction. Echocardiography is fundamental across all stages of the disease, from the diagnosis until the follow-up after completion of the definitive therapy. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can demonstrate a better anatomical definition and it is especially useful in the assessment of perivalvular extension of the infection, prosthetic valve dehiscence and valve perforation. In this article we report a case of double damage in the same mitral valve: leaflet perforation and rupture of chords in a patient with IE.