title: Septic shock secondary to infection of a left ventricular thrombus.
abstract: We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who developed severe shock with multiorgan failure requiring admission to intensive care. Endomyocardial biopsy was performed and she was diagnosed with sepsis secondary to left ventricular thrombus abscess. Surgery was contraindicated and the patient received exclusively medical treatment; the clinical course was satisfactory and the patient is alive one year later. An apical thrombus may rarely be complicated by infection. Although management normally requires surgical excision, medical management may be effective in situations in which surgery is contraindicated.
authors: Department of Critical Care and Emergency, Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitario Médico-Quirúrgico del Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain. mrb1604@terra.es
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Ruiz-Bailén
authors: Jose Angel
authors: JA
authors: Ramos-Cuadra
authors: Victor Manuel
authors: VM
authors: Aragón-Extremera
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Rucabado-Aguilar
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D000075202:Contraindications; D003422:Critical Care; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009638:Norepinephrine