ABSTRACT
Infective endocarditis (IE) is one of the most dreaded complications of structural heart disease. The advent of echocardiography and further development and refinement of echocardiographic techniques have contributed to a better diagnosis and management of endocarditis. More precise criteria for the diagnosis of IE have been established that assist physicians in making a more objective assessment of the varied clinical manifestations of this process. The echocardiographic diagnosis of vegetation is finding of echogenic mass on valve leaflets. The M-mode shows shaggy echoes on valve leaflets. The vegetations on aortic valve leaflets are similar to those on mitral valve. The echoes from the vegetation may be seen best in either systole or in diastole, depending on direction of ultrasonic beam. Large effusion echo free space that surrounds the heart. Two-dimensional echo is essential for loculated effusion. Loculated pericardial fluid maybe suspected when there is distention of oblique pericardial sinus behind left atrium.
