The Value Of Transthoracic Echocardiography In The Diagnosis Of Pacemaker Related Infective Endoearditis

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of transthoracic echocardiography in pacemaker related infectious endocarditis(IE).Methods: Retrospectively reviewed 21 patients with pacemaker related IE which was confirmed by operation sand compared with blood culture.Results : Vegetations were detected with echocardiography from fourteen pacemaker patients and were consistent with the surgery.Vegetations size ranged from 0.5cmto 4.0cm.Seven cases were detected vegetations negatively while were found during the operation, of which 6 cases only indicating uneven thickening pacemaker leads; one case of pure tricuspid vegetation with vegetation diameter less than 0.5mm. The positive examination rate of echocardiography(66.7%) was higher than that of the blood culture(47.6%).Conclusion:Echocardiography has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of pacemaker related IE when vegetations sized above 0.4cm was detected and can be used as a clinical evidence.