FRAGMENTATION HEMOLYSIS - AN UNUSUAL INDICATION FOR VALVE-REPLACEMENTIN NATIVE VALVE INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

Intravascular mechanical fragmentation of erythrocytes is an uncommon occurrence in native valve infective endocarditis, We report a case of fragmentation hemolysis in a patient with tricuspid valve endocarditi s due to Staphylococcus aureus. She received transfusion of multiple u nits of packed red blood cells and ultimately required surgical remova l of the affected valve to control the hemolytic process. We believe t his to be only the fifth such reported case and the first in which sur gical therapy was necessary to control the hemolytic process.