In this small study of 37 patients with suspected endocarditis, researchers examined the diagnostic accuracy of CT (compared to TEE or surgery), in detecting endocarditis. CT (on per valve evaluation) compared favorably to TEE (PPV 93% and NPV 98%) and surgery (PPV 96% and NPV 97%) in detecting valve abnormalities (vegetations, abscesses, perforations, fistulas, or valve dehiscence) (abstract). The authors conclude CT could be usefulfor endocarditis diagnosis after an initial TEE is negative / inconclusive, or for prosthetic valves when metallic artifacts obscure valve visualization on a TEE. Additional pre-op benefits include better anatomic mapping, and ruling in (or out) co-existing CAD (instead of angiography).
|
January 28, 2009 |
0 
Share This Post
About the Author: Danielle Scheurer
Danielle Scheurer, MD, MSCR, SFHM is a clinical hospitalist and the Chief Quality Officer at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, where she also serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, completed her residency at Duke University, and completed her Masters in Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is also the President of SHM's Board of Directors and previously served as Physician Editor of The Hospitalist, SHM's monthly newsmagazine.
Categories
Related Posts
July 31, 2020 |
0While all of us see patients who smoke in their 70s or 80s, due to their limited lifespan from COPD, DM, malignancy, etc., and their expressed wishes to continue tobacco, we keep our admonitions to a minimum. We accept our patient has become learned enough through life to make their own decisions and accept whatever […]
November 8, 2019 |
0Do you have a stack of journals piling up on your desk, beside your bed or in your email inbox? In 1950, medical knowledge was estimated to double every 50 years, but now the doubling time is every few months. At this rate, it is impossible to keep up with the literature, but a group […]
June 18, 2018 |
0Fill in the Blanks: Q: “The diagnosis of type 2 MI is associated with a _____ prognosis. ___% of patients will live five years after their diagnosis.” The answer is a) POOR and b) a staggering 40%. I did not know that. However, what I am aware of is the ambiguity around Type 2 MIs and […]
Leave A Comment