The Diagnostic Utility of Transthoracic Echocardiography for the Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis in the Real World of the Italian Registry on Infective Endocarditis

Abstract

In the real world, TTE is performed earlier and more commonly, and it is the major echocardiographic tool for the initial diagnosis. TEE confirms its superior diagnostic sensitivity in most cases, although it is relatively underused.

F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging of cardiac and vascular inflammation and infection

“…TEE has better sensitivity than TTE in native heart halve endocarditis (96 vs 70%, respectively) and less doubtful finding (1.5 vs 16%, respectively). 38 TTE has poor diagnostic performance in prosthetic heart valve endocarditis with a sensitivity of 36% for abscess and 29% for identifying vegetation (86 and 88%, respectively, for TEE) due to acoustic shadowing. Echocardiography is also useful for monitoring purposes while patient is on antimicrobial therapy by demonstrating changes in size and mobility of vegetation.…”

Optimizing cardiovascular imaging in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis

“…One reason the TTE has lower sensitivity than TEE is likely because a number of our patients have portable TTEs and have poor acoustic windows. The low sensitivity of a TTE can influence patient outcomes 30,31 . Guidelines currently recommend a TTE in all patients with positive blood cultures and new clinical findings of IE followed by a TEE if high‐risk feature such as SAB is identified 10 .…”

“…The low sensitivity of a TTE can influence patient outcomes. 30,31 Guidelines currently recommend a TTE in all patients with positive blood cultures and new clinical findings of IE followed by a TEE if high-risk feature such as SAB is identified. 10 However, not all SAB patients should require a TEE The study also has limitations.…”

Butterfly in the Heart: Infective Endocarditis after MitraClip Procedure

“…Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has higher sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing IE compared with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). 4 , 5 We describe a patient who developed IE after MitraClip implantation, showing the importance of the role of echocardiography, especially TEE, after negative results on TTE.…”