Recurrent prosthetic endocarditis in a 21-year old patient with renal transplantation treated with allogeneic homograft
Abstract
Prosthetic infective endocarditis is a possible complication of implantation of a prosthetic cardiac valve. Without early and effective treatment, it can have fatal consequences.
One treatment option is use of an allogeneic cryopreserved homograft. This case report presents a 21-year old patient after kidney transplantation due to hereditary nephrotic syndrome and aortic valve replacement with aortic conduits.
After fever was noted in the patient, prosthetic infective endocarditis was diagnosed by echocardiography and also confirmed by CT-3D examination. The cryopreserved aortic homograft was implanted at the Department of Cardiac Surgery.
This along with additional conservative management effectively treated the infection. Based on literature data and our own experience, we believe that the treatment of prosthetic endocarditis after aortic valve replacement with cryopreserved homograft can be a method of choice.