title: Candida albicans endocarditis with giant vegetation from an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endocarditis is a potentially lethal complication of implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 62-year-old male with candidemia and vegetation from a large implantable ICD lead that could not be extracted percutaneously. The ICD system was completely and successfully removed through pocket re-exploration and sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the patient was considered at high risk from thrombocytopenia, systemic infection, and symptomatic heart failure with a very low ejection fraction, the surgical procedure used to remove his ICD provided a good clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An early and aggressive combination of surgical and medical therapy is effective for the removal of an ICD causing endocarditis, and reimplantation of the device is safe when guided by principles for preventing infection.
authors: Department of Surgery, Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Darby, Pennsylvania 19023, USA. wendie.grunberg@hotmail.com
authors: Wendie
authors: W
authors: Grunberg
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Al-Bataineh
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Weiss
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*