AORTIC RUPTURE INTO LEFT ATRIUM FOLLOWING AORTIC-VALVE RING ABSCESS

Staphylococcus warneri is a coagulase-negative organism that is part o f the normal skin flora in 50% of healthy individuals. The organism is not commonly associated with serious infections. A 67-year-old man ha d endocarditis caused by S. warneri complicated by aortic valve ring a bscess. The abscess extended into the aortic wall and resulted in perf oration of the aorta into the left atrium. Accurate anatomic diagnosis of complications in bacterial endocarditis is necessary to plan a pro per therapeutic approach and prevent complications. Transesophageal ec hocardiogram and Doppler color-flow mapping are useful for early and a ccurate anatomic diagnosis of complications.