AngioVac System for Infective Endocarditis: A New Treatment for an Old Disease

Three different patients presented to our institution with right-sided infective endocarditis (IE). All three were found to have vegetation on the tricuspid valve. These patients were started on appropriate antimicrobial therapy according to their blood cultures sensitivities. Despite this management, the patients� clinical status did not improve solely on antimicrobials. Surgery was, therefore, indicated to remove the vegetations. Traditionally, the appropriate management would have been invasive surgery. However, these patients were subjected to a novel treatment in our institution for right?sided IE: percutaneous mechanical vegetation debulking with an AngioVac system. After this procedure, all three patients� clinical status improved drastically. This new less invasive approach seems to offer the same results as the traditional invasive surgery, with faster recovery time. More comparative studies are needed to confirm this idea.

Inferior vena cava filter removal – Hope for the best and prepare for the worst: An anesthesiology perspective

A patient presented to our institution for an elective removal of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter under local anesthesia. Once removed, it was noticed that the filter had a missing secondary leg. The patient had a chest CT done which showed a hyper-attenuating structure in the region of the tricuspid valve highly suspicious for the fractured strut of the filter. Upon these findings, the patient was taken once again to the surgical suite for an endovascular retrieval of the strut. For fear of a possible cardiac injury and a potential need for a sternotomy, the patient received general anesthesia and was placed with appropriate IV access and full cardiac monitors. The strut was removed successfully without any complications. Despite the relative benign nature of this endovascular procedure, one should always be prepared for an appropriate resuscitation in case of an occurrence of a surgical complication.

Quadricuspid aortic valve associated with aortic insufficiency contributors

A 51-year-old male presented with a wound in his right hand that was suspicious for possible septic emboli of cardiac origin. With transesophageal echocardiography, the patient was found to have a rare quadricuspid aortic valve. This quadricuspid valve can present with variable symptoms and physical exam findings. Due to embryological defects, this pathology is associated with several other anatomical defects that are important to recognize prior to surgical intervention. Transesophaegeal echocardiography remains the gold standard in detection of quadricuspid aortic valve and identification of other possible cardiac lesions.