Aspergillus Arterial Emboli in a Patient After Coronary Artery By-Pass Grafting

• Authors: Łukasz Dzieciuchowicz , Jacek Brzeziński , Grzegorz Oszkinis
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this report, a 74-year old male with atypical emboli of the aortic and superior mesenteric arteries is presented. In the period preceding the occurrence of emboli, patients complained of malaise, low grade fever and weight loss. Incidentally, the patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting two years prior to presentation. The pathologic examination of the embolus revealed the presence of typical Aspergillus spp hyphae. The presence of Aspergillus spp antigen in the patient serum was confirmed by an immunoenzymatic test. The transthoracic echocardiography did not show any signs of endocarditis or vegetations on the valves. Transesophageal echocardiography and angio-CT demonstrated lesions consistent with Aspergillus aortitis in the ascending aorta. The basic clinical features of Aspergillus aortitis and aspergillus emboli are discussed in this report.

Keywords

EN

aortic emboli; Aspergillus aortitis

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polish Journal of Surgery
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 79
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 555-558

Dates

published

1 - 8 - 2007

online

27 - 11 - 2007

Contributors

author

Łukasz Dzieciuchowicz

• Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Medical University in Poznań

author

Jacek Brzeziński

• Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Medical University in Poznań

author

Grzegorz Oszkinis

• Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Medical University in Poznań

References

• Sanchez-Recalde A, Mate I, Merino JL et al.: Aspergillus aortitis after cardiac surgery. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 1,41(1): 152-56.
• Weber SF, Washburn RG: Invasive Aspergillus infections complicating coronary artery bypass grafting. South Med J 1990; 83(5): 584-88.[Crossref]
• Verghese S, Maria CF, Mullaseri AS et al.: Aspergillus endocarditis presenting as femoral artery embolism. Mycoses 2004; 47(5-6): 252-56.[Crossref][PubMed]
• Ramos A de O, Medeiros AR, Paulista PP et al.: Aspergillus infection in the ascending aorta of a patient with aortic and mitral valve prostheses. Arq Bras Cardiol 2003; 81(4): 419-20.
• Middleton J, Chmel H, Tecson F et al.: Aortotomy site infections: case presentation and review of the literature. Am J Med Sci 1980; 279(2): 105-09.
• Vo NM, Russell JC, Becker DR: Mycotic emboli of the peripheral vessels: analysis of forty-four cases. Surgery 1981; 90(3): 541-45.[PubMed]
• Gray R, Kaplan L, Matloff J et al.: Aortic pseudo-aneurysm with Aspergillus aortitis. An unusual complication of coronary by-pass surgery. Chest 1986; 89: 306-08.[Crossref]
• Opal SM, Reller LB, Harrington G et al.: Aspergillus clavatus endocarditis involving a normal aortic valve following coronary artery surgery. Rev Infect Dis 1986; 8(5): 781-85.[Crossref]
• Light JT Jr, Hendrickson M, Sholes WM et al.: Acute aortic occlusion secondary to Aspergillus endocarditis in an intravenous drug abuser. Ann Vasc Surg 1991; 5(3): 271-75.[Crossref]
• Schett G, Casati B, Willinger B et al.: Endocarditis and aortal embolization caused by Aspergillus terreus in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: diagnosis by peripheral-blood culture. J Clin Microbiol 1998; 36(11): 3347-51.
• Swensson EE, Willman VL, Peterson GJ: Acute aortic occlusion from aspergillosis in a healthy patient with survival. J Vasc Surg 1986; 4(2): 187-91.
• Roux JP, Koussa A, Cajot MA et al.: Primary Aspergillus endocarditis. Apropos of a case and review of the international literature Ann Chir 1992; 46(2): 110-15.[PubMed]

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10035-007-0086-7