Echocardiography in pediatric infective endocarditis

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Dec;30(12):1109-11. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31822d320b.

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography is more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in detecting endocarditis in adults; however, pediatric data are limited. Retrospectively, 39 subjects with endocarditis were divided into adult-sized (≥60 kg) and pediatric-sized (<60 kg). TTE was 97% sensitive in pediatric-sized subjects but 70% in adult-sized subjects (P < 0.05). TTE is usually sufficient for detection of endocarditis in children <60 kg.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Size
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Echocardiography / statistics & numerical data
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies