[Echocardiographic detection of endocarditis vegetations of the tricuspid valve in 2 children with ventricular septal defect].

Two children with ventricular septal defect and tricuspid valve endocarditis are presented. One of them had ongoing endocarditis with septic pulmonary embolism, the other suffered from florid endocarditis presumably 3 months before the study. M-mode echocardiography showed echodense masses in the right ventricular outflow tract in one and anomalous systolic anterior movement of tricuspid valve tissue in the other patient. Sectorechocardiography demonstrated in both children abnormal masses originating from the tricuspid valve and extending into the right ventricular outflow tract. Surgery confirmed endocarditic vegetations and destructions of the tricuspid valve. After operative closure of the ventricular septal defect and reconstruction of the tricuspid valve both children are well. Our experience underlines the usefulness of echocardiography, especially sectorechocardiography, in demonstrating endocarditic vegetations originating from the tricuspid valve.