Diagnosis of myocardial abscess after acute myocardial infarction by transesophageal echocardiography: Case report and short review of published data

A 56-year-old man received thrombolysis for an anterior myocardial infarcti on after chest pain for 18 hours. Ten. days later he was readmitted with fe ver and hemodynamic deterioration. Transesophageal echocardiography demonst rated a thin-walled cavity at the apex of the left ventricle. At operation, he was found to have a myocardial abscess, and after excision and antibiot ics his subsequent clinical course was uneventful. We review the echocardio graphic diagnosis and clinical features of myocardial abscess complicating acute infarction. Presumed etiologic factors in our patient included late t hrombolysis, mural thrombus, and poor dental hygiene leading to septicaemia .