Bilateral Pneumothoraces: A Rare Complication of Septic Pulmonary Emboli in Intravenous Drug Abusers

Intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis for bilateral pneumothorax due to septic pulmonary embolism: a case report

Background

Pneumothorax is a rare but serious complication of septic pulmonary embolism (SPE). SPE is a life-threatening disorder wherein infected thrombi bring infarction of the terminal and small caliber parts of the pulmonary vasculature and develop multiple nodular and cavitary lesions. Interventions other than conservative chest tube drainage for pneumothorax due to SPE have rarely been reported. Here, we present a case of bilateral pneumothorax due to SPE treated with intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis.

Case Description

A 72-year-old male patient previously diagnosed as esophageal carcinoma developed metachronous bilateral pneumothorax while treated for brain metastases. Based on blood cultures and chest computed tomography images, he was diagnosed with pneumothorax secondary to SPE due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Bilateral chest tube drainage was instituted. Continuous air leakage was found bilaterally after chest tube placement. He was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics based on the susceptibility profile and supportive treatment for sepsis. Approximately 3 weeks later, air leakage significantly reduced. We performed intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis bilaterally to prevent the recurrence of pneumothorax; the left side was firstly treated and the right side was treated 2 weeks later. Both chest tubes were successfully removed two days after procedures. Although the patient finally died of brain metastases 1 month after pleurodesis, he never recurred pneumothorax.

Conclusions

Intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis may be one of the useful and efficacious options in terms of treating intractable pneumothorax associated with SPE. Intrapleural minocycline pleurodesis could be a consideration for intractable pneumothorax related to SPE.

Embolic Events in Infective Endocarditis: A Comprehensive Review

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threating entity with three main complications: heart failure (HF), uncontrolled infection (UI) and embolic events (EEs). HF and UI are the main indications of cardiac surgery and have been studied thoroughly. On the other hand, much more uncertainty surrounds EEs, which have an abrupt and somewhat unpredictable behaviour. EEs in the setting of IE have unique characteristics that must be explored, such as the potential of hemorrhagic transformation of stroke. Accurately predicting which patients will suffer EEs seems to be pivotal to achieve an optimal management of the disease, but this complex process is still not completely understood. The indication of cardiac surgery in order to prevent EEs in the absence of HF or UI is in question as scientific evidence is controversial and mainly of a retrospective nature. This revision addresses these topics and try to summarize the evidence and recommendations about them.

Idiopathic methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus associated tricuspid valve endocarditis and pneumothorax in a patient without apparent predisposing factor: a case report

Pneumothorax following right-sided bacterial endocarditis is an infrequent medical complication usually reported in cases with a history of intravenous drug abuse. The following report describes the condition of a girl without congenital heart disease or a history of intravenous drug abuse who developed pneumothorax secondary to endocarditis.

Pulmonary complications observed in patients with infective endocarditis with and without injection drug use: An analysis of the National Inpatient Sample

Background

The impact of cardiovascular and neurologic complications on infective endocarditis (IE) are well studied, yet the prevalence and significance of pulmonary complications in IE is not defined. To better characterize the multifaceted nature of IE management, we aimed to describe the occurrence and significance of pulmonary complications in IE, including among persons with IE related to drug use.

Methods

Hospitalizations of adult (≥18 years old) patients diagnosed with IE were identified in the 2016 National Inpatient Sample using ICD-10 codes. Multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to compare IE patient outcomes between those with and without pulmonary complications and to identify predictors of pulmonary complications. Interaction terms were used to assess the impact of drug-use IE (DU-IE) and pulmonary complications on inpatient outcomes.

Results

In 2016, there were an estimated 88,995 hospitalizations of patients diagnosed with IE. Of these hospitalizations,15,490 (17%) were drug-use related. Drug-use IE (DU-IE) had the highest odds of pulmonary complications (OR 2.97, 95% CI 2.50, 3.45). At least one pulmonary complication was identified in 6,580 (7%) of IE patients. DU-IE hospitalizations were more likely to have a diagnosis of pyothorax (3% vs. 1%, p<0.001), lung abscess (3% vs. <1%, p<0.001), and septic pulmonary embolism (27% vs. 2%, p<0.001). Pulmonary complications were associated with longer average lengths of stay (CIE 7.22 days 95% CI 6.11, 8.32), higher hospital charges (CIE 78.51 thousand dollars 95% CI 57.44, 99.57), more frequent post-discharge transfers (acute care: OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.09, 1.71; long-term care: OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.83, 2.61), and increased odds of inpatient mortality (OR 1.81 95% CI 1.39, 2.35).

Conclusion and relevance

IE with pulmonary complications is associated with worse outcomes. Patients with DU-IE have a particularly high prevalence of pulmonary complications that may require timely thoracic surgical intervention, likely owing to right-sided valve involvement. More research is needed to determine optimal management strategies for complications to improve patient outcomes.

Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis 2020: Challenges and Updates in Diagnosis and Treatment

Compared with the extensive data on left-sided infective endocarditis (IE), there is much less published information on the features and management of right-sided IE. Right-sided IE accounts for 5% to 10% of all IE cases, and compared with left-sided IE, it is more often associated with intravenous drug use, intracardiac devices, and central venous catheters, all of which has become more prevalent over the past 20 years. In this manuscript on right-sided IE we provide an up-to-date overview on the epidemiology, etiology, microbiology, potential locations of infection in the right heart, diagnosis, imaging, common complications, management, and prognosis. We present updated information on the treatment of pacemaker and device infections, infected fibrin sheaths that appear to be an easily missed source of infection after central line as well as pacemaker removal. We review current data on the AngioVac percutaneous aspiration device, which can obviate the need for surgery in patients with infected pacemaker leads and fibrin sheaths. We also focused on advanced diagnostic modalities, such as positron emission tomography/computed tomography. All of these are supported by specific case examples with detailed echocardiographic imaging from our experience.