The role of echocardiography in evaluating infective endocarditis

The role of Doppler and echocardiography in infective endocarditis (I.E.) are for diagnosis and follow-up. I.E. should be suspected in fever of unknown origin despite whether heart murmur is concomitant. The Duke criteria included echocardiographic examination as one of major criteria. The detection rate of vegetation is 60-70%. Transesophageal echocardiography is suggested for normal transthoracic echocardiography but clinically suspected I.E., or evaluation of intracardiac complication in confirmed case. Surgical intervention is indicated in case with intracardiac complication. Follow-up study included evaluation of morphologic change, the time for surgery, particularly the change of size of vegetation in active phase and the extension of perivalvular invasion.