title: Acute aortic occlusion with sudden paraplegia secondary to Aspergillus niger embolism from Aspergillus niger aortitis.
abstract: Acute aortic occlusion caused by a saddle embolus is a rare vascular emergency. Associated sudden paraplegia secondary to spinal cord ischemia is even more uncommon. Aspergillus surgical site infection is typically linked to cardiac surgery but is exceptional. Here we present a case that combines all of these factors. A 67-year-old man presented with sudden paraplegia from acute aortic occlusion with a saddle embolus from Aspergillus niger aortitis 4 months after aortic valve replacement and aortoplasty. We believe this to be the second reported case of Aspergillus niger aortitis and the first presenting as aortic occlusion with paraplegia.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgical Service, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. russelljamieson@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Russell W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Jehangir N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Din
authors.forename: Zahid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Raza
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001011:Aorta / Q000382:microbiology*; D001025:Aortitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017128:Embolectomy; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents