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Fatal fungal pericarditis after cardiac surgery and immunosuppression
T P Carrel1, A Schaffner, E R Schmid
1Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The cases of two patients with fulminant pericarditis after cardiac surgery are reported. Both fungal infections developed after rethoracotomy for open-chest cardiac resuscitation and high-dose glucocorticoid treatment. Although the time course of both infections from the inoculation of fungi during rethoracotomy and immunosuppression with glucocorticoids to the lethal outcome was strikingly similar, histopathologic studies disclosed the disparate character of the two fungal pathogens responsible: the yeast Candida albicans and the angiotropic mold Aspergillus fumigatus.
Insights
Fulminant pericarditis can be fatal after cardiac surgery, often due to fungal infections like Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. These infections arise after rethoracotomy and glucocorticoid treatment, leading to similar lethal outcomes despite different pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Fulminant pericarditis is a rare but severe complication following cardiac surgery.
- Fungal infections can arise post-cardiac surgery, particularly after rethoracotomy and immunosuppressive therapy.