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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1998;14:440-442
© 1998 Elsevier Science NL

Case report

Venous gangrene of the lower limbs following aortic valve replacement for native valve endocarditis

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, London Chest Hospital, London, UK
^b Department of Histopathology, Royal London Hospital, London, UK

Received 26 January 1998; received in revised form 11 July 1998; accepted 28 July 1998.

Corresponding author. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK; Tel.: +44 171 9289292; ext., 2905; fax: +44 171 9280658.

Bacterial endocarditis is a complex disease associated with high morbidity and mortality with complications that include acute heart failure and arterial embolism. Venous thrombosis of the lower limbs is not uncommon following all forms of surgery, but infrequent following cardiac surgery, and rarely progresses to venous gangrene. We report a case of bilateral lower-limb venous gangrene, in a 49-year-old female who underwent aortic valve replacement for native valve endocarditis. The possible aetiology of this complication is discussed.

Key Words: Thrombosis • Gangrene • Cardiac surgery • Endocarditis