Aortic Valve Perforation in Bacterial Endocarditis

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Abstract
This report describes 10 patients with bacterial endocarditis who during observation developed signs of dynamic aortic insufficiency or experienced marked worsening of the manifestations of pre-existing aortic insufficiency. The autopsy findings in these patients provide evidence that the clinical signs were associated with perforation or rupture of the aortic valve cusps. It is suggested that this sequence of events in the course of bacterial endocarditis is common and that its occurrence must be regarded as an ominous prognostic sign.