3D Printed Rheumatic Endocarditis

3D Printed Rheumatic Endocarditis Clinical HistoryThe patient was a 52-year old female with increasing dyspnoea. She gave a past history of fever with flitting joint pains in childhood following a sore throat. On examination: cyanotic, pulse showed atrial fibrillation, jugular venous pulse elevated, pan-systolic murmur at apex, hepatomegaly, and dependent oedema. She was being treated with digoxin, lasix (furosemide) and penicillin but died after cardiac arrest. Pathology The specimen is that of a heart opened to show the left atrium and left ventricle. The mitral valve has been cut, but those visible parts show significant thickening. The left atrial wall shows deposition of blood and fibrin. The left auricular appendage is filled with blood clot, caused by atrial fibrillation. The mural thrombus on the atrial wall is in the typical site:- the deep layers of the endocardium forming irregular thickenings, called MacCallum’s plaques (arrows). Further Informat