Diagnostics

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Arian Arjomandi Rad

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Guest Editor

Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Interests: cardiac surgery; medical technology; artificial intelligence

Prof. Dr. Alexander Weymann

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Guest Editor

Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplant and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Interests: cardiac surgery; heart failure; mechanical circulatory support

Prof. Dr. Thanos Athanasiou

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Guest Editor

Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
Interests: cardiac surgery; aortic surgery; clinical research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a complex cardiovascular pathology, with its multifaceted clinical presentation demanding acute diagnostic acumen. We invite to this Special Issue which offers a consolidated exploration into the intricacies of IE's clinical features, state-of-the-art management, and prognosis determinants. We invite seasoned clinicians to share insights into the diverse symptomatology of IE, emphasizing cardinal signs, potential complications, and differential diagnoses. Contributions dissecting contemporary diagnostic modalities, evaluating their efficacy in clinical settings, will be particularly appreciated. Additionally, we encourage submissions on the evolving landscape of therapeutic interventions, ranging from nuanced antibiotic stewardship to surgical strategies, highlighting best practices and evidence-based outcomes. Crucially, a focused discussion on prognostic indicators, long-term outcomes, and patient follow-up in IE is sought. This issue aims to foster a collegial exchange of knowledge, refining the approach to IE care and fostering groundbreaking research in the field.

Dr. Arian Arjomandi Rad
Prof. Dr. Alexander Weymann
Prof. Dr. Thanos Athanasiou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

infective endocarditis
clinical presentation
diagnostic modalities
antibiotic stewardship
surgical interventions
prognostic indicators

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

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18 pages, 1603 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Surgical Treatment of Infective Endocarditis: A Comprehensive Review

by Arian Arjomandi Rad, Alina Zubarevich, Anja Osswald, Robert Vardanyan, Dimitrios E. Magouliotis, Ali Ansaripour, Antonios Kourliouros, Michel Pompeu Sá, Tienush Rassaf, Arjang Ruhparwar, Peyman Sardari Nia, Thanos Athanasiou and Alexander Weymann

Diagnostics 2024, 14(5), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14050464 - 20 Feb 2024

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Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe cardiac complication with high mortality rates, especially when surgical intervention is delayed or absent. This review addresses the expanding role of surgery in managing IE, focusing on the variation in surgical treatment rates, the impact of patient demographics, and the effectiveness of different surgical approaches. Despite varying global data, a notable increase in surgical interventions for IE is evident, with over 50% of patients undergoing surgery in tertiary centres. This review synthesizes information from focused literature searches up to July 2023, covering preoperative to postoperative considerations and surgical strategies for IE. Key preoperative concerns include accurate diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial treatment, and the timing of surgery, which is particularly crucial for patients with heart failure or at risk of embolism. Surgical approaches vary based on valve involvement, with mitral valve repair showing promising outcomes compared to replacement. Aortic valve surgery, traditionally favouring replacement, now includes repair as a viable option. Emerging techniques such as sutureless valves and aortic homografts are explored, highlighting their potential advantages in specific IE cases. The review also delves into high-risk groups like intravenous drug users and the elderly, emphasizing the need for tailored surgical strategies. With an increasing number of patients presenting with prosthetic valve endocarditis and device-related IE, the review underscores the importance of comprehensive management strategies encompassing surgical and medical interventions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence in the surgical management of IE, highlighting the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach and ongoing research to optimize patient outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Presentation, Management and Prognosis of Infective Endocarditis)

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4 pages, 2643 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Incidental Finding of Subannular Perfused Aortic Root Abscess

by Luise Vöhringer, Malte Niklas Bongers, Florian Helms and Aron Frederik Popov

Diagnostics 2024, 14(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14010019 - 21 Dec 2023

Viewed by 549

Abstract

An 83-year-old female presented with aortic valve stenosis requiring surgery, which was diagnosed with a transthoracic echocardiography three years ago. However, the patient declined the surgery at that time due to personal reasons. Three years later she presented again with signs of dizziness and weakness and progression of the aortic valve stenosis. Cardiac catheterization and a computed tomography scan were performed before the planned surgery. Surprisingly, a huge subannular perfused abscess hole around the aortic root companying a pericardial effusion was revealed. The patient underwent an urgent aortic root replacement with a tissue valve and an aortic ascending replacement without any complications. Intraoperative inspection confirmed an active aortic root and valve endocarditis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Presentation, Management and Prognosis of Infective Endocarditis)

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