About the book
Endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening heart disease that affects valves and even the myocardium. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is often delayed due to vague, unspecific, clinical symptoms and history. Increased awareness is important and imaging technologies, laboratory markers, and history is crucial for a definite diagnosis. A suspected and confirmed diagnosis often relies on multidisciplinary collaboration between several specialties including cardiology, infectious disease, thoracic surgery, intensive care, and imaging specialties. Treatment with antibiotics is often long-term and in the event of devices, the complete system has to be removed as a general rule. The increasing number of cardiac devices has highlighted the importance of optimal proactive care to diminish the risk for infections. Moreover, new treatment practice has been advocated in selected cases. This book will cover a comprehensive summary of endocarditis based on current evidence-based medicine.
