What is the appropriate timeline and modality (TTE, TEE, or advanced imaging) for repeat imaging in patients with suspected infective endocarditis and negative initial echocardiography?
Highlights the clinical dilemma and need for appropriate selection of timeline and modality for repeat imaging in suspected infective endocarditis when initial echocardiography is negative.
Although echocardiography is fundamental in diagnosing infective endocarditis, sometimes it reveals no evidence of endocarditis while clinical indicators remain consistent with the diagnosis. In such cases, repeat imaging is necessary, and the appropriate timeline for it and whether it should be done with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), trans esophageal echocardiography (TEE), or an advanced imaging method are important.
Haq et al. (Mon,) studied this question.