A patient presents to the emergency department with weight loss, petechiae, and splinter hemorrhages. the patient's vital signs
are: blood pressure 135/82, pulse 108, oxygen saturation 96%, on room air, and temperature 101.4° f. upon physical assessment, a new murmur is noted. what diagnostic test should be done first?
With the salient features of the case including weight loss, petechiae, and splinter hemorrhages and PE findings of fever and increased BP and tachycardia; the primary assessment will be infective endocarditis. The hallmark for endocarditis is the presence of vegetations on the valves. These vegetations can be primarily visualized by 2D echocardiography.
