# Cardiac CT in Infective Aortic Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

## TL;DR

Cardiac CT is a useful alternative to TOE for diagnosing aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis, especially when TOE is not possible.

## Contribution

Highlights the equivalent sensitivity of cardiac CT to TOE for detecting complications in prosthetic valve endocarditis.

## Key findings

- Cardiac CT is valuable when TOE is contraindicated or limited by calcifications or the prosthetic valve.
- Cardiac CT offers at least equivalent sensitivity to TOE for detecting abscesses and pseudoaneurysms.

## Abstract

Teaching point: Cardiac computed tomography angiography is particularly valuable in patients with prosthetic valve infective endocarditis who have contraindications to transesophageal echocardiography (TOE), or when TOE is limited by heavy calcifications or the prosthetic valve, offering at least equivalent sensitivity for detecting abscesses and pseudoaneurysms.