Bartonella henselae Endocarditis of Percutaneously Implanted Pulmonary Valve

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) has revolutionized the management of right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction after repaired congenital heart disease. Although the technology is considered to be safe with a relatively low complication rate, infection is a described complication, with five cases of culture-positive infective endocarditis of percutaneously implanted pulmonary valve having been reported to date worldwide. Herein is reported the first ever case of culture-negative endocarditis following PPVI, caused by Bartonella henselae, diagnosed five years after implantation in a 15-year-old patient with a repaired truncus arteriosus. The Journal of Heart Valve Disease 2012;21:682-685