What is an aortic root abscess?

What is an aortic root abscess?

Aortic root abscess (ARA) is a catastrophic complication of aortic root endocarditis, involving both native and prosthetic valves, which often warrants surgical intervention. Currently, aortic valve replacement (AVR) and aortic root replacement (ARR) are the most widely employed techniques.

What is aortic valve endocarditis?

Endocarditis occurs when bacteria or other germs enter your bloodstream, travel to your heart, and lodge on abnormal heart valves or damaged heart tissue.

What is the aortic root?

The aortic root is the section of the aorta closest to and attached to the heart. An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery. If the aneurysm develops in the aortic root, the aorta can dilate and the aortic valve can leak (regurgitation). If the aneurysm continues to expand, it can rupture.

What causes an abscess on your heart?

A cardiac abscess is a suppurative infection of the myocardium, endocardium, native or prosthetic valve tissue. Similar to other abscesses, it develops either by dissemination from a distant source such as bacteremia or sepsis or by direct extension of a pre-existing cardiac infective focus.

Does endocarditis come back?

Three problems hamper the prognosis of patients who survive the initial phase of infective endocarditis (IE): the rate of IE recurrence is 0.3-2.5/100 patient years, about 60% of patients will have to be operated on at some time, 20-30% during the initial stay, 30-40% during the following 5-8 years; five-year survival …

How is aortic root dilation treated?

An ascending aortic root aneurysm procedure may be done in two ways. In aortic root replacement, your surgeon removes a section of your aorta and your aortic valve. The aortic section is replaced with an artificial tube (graft). The aortic valve is replaced with a mechanical or biological valve (bottom right image).

What causes aortic root?

What are the causes? Like other aneurysms, these can be caused by smoking and high blood pressure. Your risk for developing an aortic root aneurysm also increases as you age due to a buildup of plaque in your arteries, known as atherosclerosis.

How is a heart abscess treated?

Endocarditis is treated with a course of antibiotics given via a drip. You’ll need to be admitted to hospital for this. Some people also need surgery to repair or replace a damaged heart valve or drain away any abscesses that develop. Endocarditis is a serious illness, especially if complications develop.

What are the symptoms of a heart infection?

Many heart infections include these common symptoms:

• Chest pain.
• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Fluid buildup (edema) in the legs, ankles, feet or abdomen.
• Joint pain or body aches.
• Night sweats.
• Rapid heartbeat (arrhythmia) or pounding heartbeat (heart palpitations).
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea).