Right-sided endocarditis complicating peritoneovenous shunting for ascites.

Abstract

We describe two patients with alcoholic cirrhosis in whom staphylococcal right-sided endocarditis developed after insertion of a peritoneovenous shunt (PVS). Massive pulmonary embolism caused early death in one patient. In the other patient, staphylococcal septicemia was cured after shunt removal and antibiotic treatment; recurrent endocarditis due to Corynebacterium xerosis ultimately caused the patient's death. No clinical manifestation of tricuspid valve dysfunction was noted in either patient, and right-sided endocarditis was recognized only at autopsy. The protracted contact of the tip of the venous line of PVS with the atrial wall is likely to be a major factor in the development of right-sided endocarditis in these patients.

• Authors: D Valla, E A Pariente, C Degott, B Fabiani-Saloff, J Bernuau, B Rueff, J P Benhamou
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) Vol. 143 Issue 9 Pg. 1801-2 (Sep 1983) ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6615106 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Corynebacterium Infections (etiology)
• Endocarditis, Bacterial (etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Peritoneovenous Shunt (adverse effects)
• Vascular Surgical Procedures (adverse effects)