title: Aspergillus ball thrombus occluding a homograft conduit.
abstract: Almost total occlusion of an aortic homograft conduit by a ball of Aspergillus terreus was found postmortem in a 6-month-old infant following repair of a type I truncus arteriosus. Signs of pulmonary hypertensive crisis, fever, anaemia, and thrombocytopenia were present. However, blood cultures were persistently negative. A 2-D echocardiogram failed to demonstrate any vegetation. The clinical, pathological, and postmortem findings are described and difficulties in the diagnosis of Aspergillus infection are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dhasmana
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011379:Prognosis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014339:Truncus Arteriosus, Persistent / Q000601:surgery*