Acute endocarditis in a pregnant patient requiring post-partum emergency mitral valve repair: a case report

A 37-year-old pregnant patient presented with symptoms of shortness of breath, cough and malaise at 36 weeks’ gestation. Antibiotics were started because of suspected bilateral pneumonia. A lower segment caesarean section was undertaken and significant desaturation lead to intubation of the patient. A CTPA confirmed bilateral pneumonia but also elements of heart failure with a 32 mm dilated pulmonary artery. Severe mitral regurgitation was confirmed with trans-thoracic and trans-oesophageal echocardiogram on Day 5 and emergency mitral valve repair was undertaken for possible infective endocarditis (IE) as per the modified Duke criteria, which was confirmed intra-operatively. The patient completed 4 weeks of antibiotics and suffered mild memory impairment post-operatively. She was discharged from complex rehabilitation after 6 weeks of hospital stay at her baseline state. This case presents IE in a pregnant patient with no significant risk factors with successful recovery because of prompt diagnosis and management.