Infective endocarditis complicated by mycotic cerebral aneurysm: two case reports of women in the peripartum period

Mycotic cerebral aneurysm is a relatively rare but very serious complicatio n of infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis is a rare but a potenti ally fatal complication of pregnancy. We report here two very rare cases of infective endocarditis associated with mycotic cerebral aneurysm in peripa rtum women. In one case, cardiac surgery was performed prior to cerebral su rgery and after delivery. In the other case, emergency cerebral surgery was performed due to rupture on the day cardiac surgery had been scheduled, 45 days after delivery. The surgical management of a patient with infective e ndocarditis and mycotic cerebral aneurysm is reviewed. The surgical strateg y for a pregnant patient is also reviewed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.