Eustachian valve endocarditis: a case series and analysis of the literature.

Eustachian valve endocarditis (EVE) is a syndrome characterized by clinical signs and symptoms of right-sided infective endocarditis in association with an infective vegetation on the eustachian valve. EVE usually occurs without associated involvement of any other cardiac valves, and it is difficult to diagnose accurately by transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography appears to be a more sensitive tool for the diagnosis of EVE, and it is recommended when a patient with typical signs of right-sided endocarditis has normal results on a transthoracic echocardiography study. In general, EVE responds well to conventional antibiotic therapy.