Infective endocarditis presenting initially with ileus complicated by dehiscence of annuloplasty ring

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) on an annuloplasty ring dehiscence is uncommon after mitral valve repair. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man underwent mitral annuloplasty with a 24-mm ring for posterior mitral valve prolapse. He underwent repeat valve repair for recurrent mitral valve regurgitation 4 years later. He was re-hospitalised complaining of vomiting, nausea, general fatigue and left abdominal pain 2 months later, and presented with low-grade fever, leukocytosis and an elevated blood concentration of C-reactive protein. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed multiple embolisms in the liver, kidney and spleen. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed mitral annuloplasty ring dehiscence and vegetations consistent with IE. The infected annuloplasty ring and vegetations were surgically excised. Blood cultures grew coagulasenegative staphylococcus aureus, consistent with the excised mitral valve histology. The postoperative course was uneventful, without recurrence of IE. CONCLUSIONS: Embolic ileus as initial manifestation of IE is rare and might confuse the diagnosis and delay its management. Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms may be the initial manifestations of systemic embolization from infective endocarditis. Transoesophageal echocardiography effectively identified the presence of vegetations and mitral annuloplasty ring dehiscence.