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Hyperthemia after cardiac surgery due to ascariasis in a child: report of a case

Yoshiyuki Maekawa1, Takahiko Sakamoto, Kentaroh Umezu

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Nagano, Japan. ymaekawa1021@yahoo.co.jp

General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|May 31, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Ascaris lumbricoides infection can cause serious hyperthermia in children during the perioperative period. Prompt diagnosis and treatment resolved the fever in a pediatric cardiac surgery patient.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Ascariasis, caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, is a common human parasitic infection, particularly in low socio-economic settings.
  • Postoperative hyperthermia is a concerning complication following cardiac surgery, necessitating thorough investigation.

Observation:

  • A 2-year-old female child developed persistent serious hyperthermia after undergoing right pulmonary angioplasty with cardiopulmonary bypass.
  • Despite re-exploration due to suspected mediastinitis, no surgical complication was found. However, Ascaris lumbricoides was later identified in the patient's stool.

Findings:

  • The patient's hyperthermia resolved after the diagnosis of Ascaris lumbricoides infection.
  • This case suggests a strong correlation between Ascaris lumbricoides infection and severe perioperative fever.

Implications:

  • Ascariasis should be considered as a potential cause of unexplained hyperthermia in pediatric patients, especially those with a history of travel or exposure to endemic areas.
  • Early identification and management of parasitic infections like ascariasis are crucial for preventing serious complications in the perioperative period of pediatric cardiac surgery.

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