Infective Endocarditis in Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Any congenital heart disease (CHD) with high-velocity jets of blood flow and/or artificial material is associated with the highest risk of infective endocarditis (IE). And IE can be a big issue not only for the patient with CHD before the operation but also after the palliative and the radical surgery. Jets stream of the intracardiac shunt (including the residual shunt after corrective operation) and artificial conduits and/or patches after palliated or corrective operation can be the origin of IE. Even though the incidence of IE in children is much lower than in adults, the risk of IE can be high for patients with CHD. Certain CHD are common underlying conditions of IE, including ventricular septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, aortic valve abnormalities, endocardial cushion defects, and tetralogy of Fallot. Furthermore, patients with complex cyanotic CHD with or without conduit procedures, palliative shunt, patches, and prosthetic valves are becoming a large group at risk.