Retinal Hemorrhages From Septic Emboli in a Patient With a Ventricular False Chorda

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 122; no. 1; pp. 117 - 119
• Main Authors: Weissgold, David J., Decker, Pamela J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1996; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteremia - complications; Bacteremia - drug therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Embolism - complications; Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial - drug therapy; Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial - etiology; Female; Fundus Oculi; Heart; Heart Ventricles - abnormalities; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Heart Ventricles - microbiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Retina - drug effects; Retina - pathology; Retinal Hemorrhage - drug therapy; Retinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Retinal Hemorrhage - pathology; Streptococcal Infections - complications; Streptococcal Infections - drug therapy; Streptococcal Infections - etiology; Streptococcus - isolation & purification; Vision Disorders - etiology; Sonography; Human; Retinopathy; Echocardiography; Congenital; Cardiovascular disease; Retina; Congenital disease; Hemorrhage; Bacteremia; Embolism; Infection; Vascular disease; Case study; Eye disease; Transesophageal route; Malformation; Heart disease; Streptococcal infection; Endocardial disease; Endocarditis; Bacteriosis; Adult; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)71975-0

To demonstrate ophthalmic findings of bacterial endocarditis in a patient with a cardiac structural anomaly and to illustrate the potentia usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the examination of such patients. We examined a patient with bacteremia who had white-centered retinal hemorrhages. Complete clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic evaluations were performed. Streptococcal bacteremia was proven and, by using transesophageal echocardiography, a ventricular false chorda was demonstrated. Patients with white-centered retinal hemorrhages should undergo thorough systemic examinations. In this unusual case of such hemorrhages caused by bacteremia in a patient with a ventricular false chorda, modern, high-resolution transesophageal echocardiography played an important role in confirming the diagnosis.