Heart Block as a Rare Complication of Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis: Awareness is the Key

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) occurs when bacterial or fungal pathogens enter the blood and attach to the endocardium. Right-sided endocarditis is usually associated with intravenous drug use (IVDU), intracardiac devices, and central venous catheters. There is more data published about left-side endocarditis when compared to right-sided endocarditis. Tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (TVIE) accounts for 5%-10% of IE, and of those cases, roughly 10% are complicated by conduction deficits due to inflammatory edema, myocarditis, and abscess formation. Tricuspid valve (TV) surgical repair carries its own risks, one of which includes the development of conduction abnormalities. Here, we review the current data of TVIE complicated by heart block after tricuspid valve replacement. Also, we present a case of a 21-year-old IVDU female who presented with tricuspid valve endocarditis, subsequently underwent tricuspid valve replacement, and developed a heart block.