Aortic Valve Replacement for Infective Endocarditis After Presternal Esophageal Reconstruction.

A 57-year-old man with dyspnea was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve. He had undergone subtotal esophagectomy with neoesophageal reconstruction from the anterior sternum for esophageal cancer 6 years previously. Progressive heart failure and multiple cerebral infarctions warranted emergency aortic valve replacement by the right thoracotomy approach, which avoided esophageal injury and provided a good surgical view. We suggest that right thoracotomy is a useful option for treating aortic infective endocarditis in patients after esophageal reconstruction with a subcutaneous neoesophagus.