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Postoperative intramyocardial abscess caused by mucormycosis
J M Balaguer1, E Soto, D Perry
1Department of Pathology, St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|December 1, 1994
Summary
A rare case of mucormycosis caused a myocardial abscess after heart surgery. Autopsy revealed this fungal infection as the cause of fatal arrhythmias and organ failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Immunosuppression can increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections.
- Cardiac surgery, such as coronary revascularization, carries inherent risks.
- Mucormycosis is a rare but serious fungal infection, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old woman with multiple risk factors for immunosuppression underwent coronary revascularization.
- Post-operatively, she developed various cardiac arrhythmias and complete heart block.
- Despite extensive medical evaluation, the cause of her deteriorating condition remained unclear.
Findings:
- Autopsy revealed a large intramyocardial abscess in the interventricular septum.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the abscess was caused by mucormycosis, a fungal infection.
- The fungal infection was directly linked to the patient's cardiac complications and subsequent death.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering rare fungal infections like mucormycosis in immunocompromised patients with cardiac complications post-surgery.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis are crucial to improve outcomes.
- Further research into the management of intramyocardial fungal infections is warranted.