Papers of the Week

Infective endocarditis is a multisystem disease. Tricuspid valve endocarditis is frequently seen in patients with intravenous (IV) drug users. Cavitating lung nodules predominantly in a peripheral location in IV drug users indicate the possibility of septic emboli. Large vegetation and persistent bacteremia with septic embolic phenomena are the most common indication for surgery. We present a case of a 62-year-old male with a history of IV drug use who presented with epigastric abdominal pain, pleuritic chest pain, and shortness of breath. CT chest showed cavitating lung nodules suggestive of septic pulmonary emboli. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed tricuspid valve vegetation despite a normal transthoracic echocardiogram. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics. He was deemed a poor surgical candidate; therefore, he was transferred to a tertiary center for AngioVAC (AngioDynamics, Latham, New York).