Single and multiple beam echocardiography in aortic valve endocarditis. Report of three cases.

Three patients with aortic valve endocarditis were studied. The single beam M-mode echocardiographic findings comprised the appearance in diastole of a cluster of shaggy echoes at the aortic valve in all three patients. Mitral flutter was seen in two patients and premature closure of the mitral valve in one patient. At multiple beam two-dimensional echocardiography, the echo cluster could in all three patients be seen to move perpendicular to the sound beams, ascending into the aorta in systole and descending in diastole. At valve replacement, vegetations were found that explained the abnormal echo cluster. The multiple beam echocardiography facilitated the interpretation of the single beam findings and increased the confidence therein. By applying the non-invasive modality of echocardiography in these patients with their high risk of embolism, cardiac catheterization may possibly be avoided.