Aspergillus ball thrombus occluding a homograft conduit.
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.
Bhatnagar
N K
NK
Cardiac Surgical Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
Dhasmana
J P
JP
Russell
G A
GA
Jordan
S C
SC
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*