ED identification of cardiac septal abscess using conduction block on ECG

A case of cardiac septal abscess in a patient with a porcine bioprosthetic aortic valve who gradually developed a complete atrioventricular block on successive electrocardiograms (ECG) is reported. Emergency physicians should consider endocarditis with septal abscess in a patient with a prosthetic heart valve who presents with fever and a new conduction defect on ECG. (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:730-734.