Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Rupture in a Case of Pediatric Bicuspid Aortic Valve Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND

Most pediatric infectious endocarditis (IE) cases occur in children with congenital heart disease. Acute left ventricular outflow tract rupture is a rare complication of bacterial IE.

CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old boy with a bicuspid aortic valve and no surgical history was diagnosed with IE. He was found to have an acute contained rupture of the left ventricular outflow tract that required emergent surgical intervention.

DISCUSSION: This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for cardiac rupture in children with IE when there is persistence or development of nonspecific symptoms.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Careful attention to persistent symptoms in a child with congenital heart disease and IE is critical to diagnose and manage the serious complication of acute rupture.