Work

Multimodal diagnosis and management of prosthetic valve endocarditis: A decade of experience at a tertiary center

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) poses a growing clinical challenge due to its rising incidence, diagnostic complexity, and treatment risk. Prompt diagnosis and individualized management are key to optimizing outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective case series analyzes 21 consecutive patients diagnosed with PVE and managed at a tertiary medical center between 2015 and 2024. Clinical characteristics, microbiological findings, imaging modalities, treatment strategies, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) contributed diagnostic value in 24 %, particularly when TEE was inconclusive. Surgical intervention was performed in 12 patients (92 % hospital survival), while 9 patients were treated medically. The overall 30-day survival was 95.2 %, with a 2-year survival rate of 75 %. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging, especially TEE and FDG-PET, enhances early detection of PVE. Surgical debridement combined with antimicrobial therapy yields favorable outcomes, though individualized treatment-particularly for high-risk patients-remains essential.

Source: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2025.11.019

Authors: Jeng-Wei Chen, Hsiu-Wen Liang, Bo-Wei Fong, Heng-Wen Chou, Ting-Ting Chang, Ron-Bin Hsu

Institutions: National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,500