Septic pulmonary emboli in pulmonary valve endocarditis with concurrent ventricular septal defect and coronary artery disease: a case report

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is one of the common causes of life-threatening infections. Compared to left-sided endocarditis, right-sided infective endocarditis is rarer, with pulmonary valve endocarditis much rarer than the tricuspid valve. Its diagnosis poses a challenge, owing to its rarity, low index of clinical suspicion, and lack of availability of appropriate diagnostic measures. Risk factors include indwelling central venous catheter, sepsis, intravenous drug use, pacemaker with lead infection, or ventricular septal defect (VSD). CASE SUMMARY: We describe a case of pulmonary valve endocarditis that led to septic pulmonary emboli in a patient scheduled for elective bypass surgery for triple vessel disease. There was an incidental finding of VSD on echocardiography, which is also a risk factor for pulmonary valve endocarditis owing to the jet of VSD to the pulmonary valve. The patient was given 4 weeks of antibiotics and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass graft, pulmonary valve replacement, and VSD closure. DISCUSSION: Our case demonstrated the importance of high clinical suspicion and vigilance of diagnosing pulmonary valve endocarditis when dealing with pyrexia of unknown origin in a patient with a congenital VSD as VSD-associated pulmonary valve endocarditis remained a rare disease. Besides, an active search for clinical and radiological signs of pulmonary embolization is necessary in patients with right-sided endocarditis especially those with large and mobile vegetation. A conservative approach or valve repair is recommended for most patients with right sided IE affecting the tricuspid or pulmonary valve.