Gerbode ventricular septal defect following endocarditis

A Gerbode defect is a ventricular septal defect communicating directly between the left ventricle and right atrium. There has been some debate about the existence of such an entity. We present the case of a previously healthy 15-year-old boy who developed bacterial endocarditis following ear piercing and was subsequently found to have a defect between the left ventricle and right atrium, which was successfully repaired surgically.