Echo of the Week: Infective Endocarditis

Quick Tips for Describing Valvular Vegetations

Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a potentially fatal diagnosis; bacteria can settle on the heart valves, endocardium, or even prosthetic/implantable cardiac devices. Infective endocarditis can manifest as valvular vegetations that we can look for with TTE and TEE. These growths can damage the valvular apparatus, necessitating replace…