INCREMENTAL DIAGNOSTIC YIELD OF LIVE 3D TEE IN INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

Abstract

A 57 year old Caucasian male presented with fever, positive blood cultures with staph aureus and embolic phenomenon to the kidney and lower extremities. Conventional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) did not show valvular vegetation. No valvular vegetation was noted on 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). A mobile vegetation was found on live 3D TEE imaging. Our case illustrates the incremental diagnostic utility of 3D TEE to diagnose small valvular vegetations that may be missed on 2D TTE and TEE.