Abstract The prevalence of valvular heart disease remains significant worldwide, as does the resulting use of valve replacement devices. Currently, mechanical valve prostheses (MVP), biological valve prostheses (BVP), and transcatheter valve prostheses are available. Computer tomography (CT) provides excellent spatial resolution and plays a critical role in the diagnostic process for prosthetic valve dysfunction (PVD). CT allows proper visualization of leaflet calcification/thickening (biological) or leaflet motion and angulation (mechanical). CT plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis of pannus and/or […]

Introduction Infectious endocarditis (IE) is defined as the infection of the endocardium or prosthetic material in the heart, whose pathogenesis is bacterial adherence to the vulnerable endocardium or implanted prosthetic material during a bacteremia. Its clinical presentation is highly variable, depending on the micro-organism that causes it, underlying heart conditions and preexisting comorbidities. The annual estimated incidence of IE is up to 10/100,000 in western countries, and mortality of up to 30% in 30 days. […]

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