ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
PULMONARY ABCSES CAUSING BY ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS AFTER CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION
Denyan MANSUROĞLU, Altuğ TUNCER, Ercan EREN, Kaan KIRALİ, Gökhan İPEK, Cevat YAKUT
Koşuyolu Kalp Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Kalp Damar Cerrahisi Kliniği, İstanbul
Acute rejection and infection are the major causes of mortality after heart transplantation. A 30 year – old heart transplant recipient developed high grade fever, leukocytosis and worsening general condition on the 21st postoperative day. Computed tomography (CT) revealed pleural effusion in the right hemithorax and gram (-) enterocci was identified in blood cultures. One week after non responding to appropriate antibiotic therapy for enterococci, CT scans of the thorax showed abscess formation in the lateral segment of the right middle lobe. CT-guided abscess drainage was performed. Aspergillus flavus was identified in the fluid material and amphotericin B was administered. Clinical and radiological healing were developed after 3 months therapy. In addition to bacterial and viral infections, fungal infections are the major cause of high mortality rate in immunosupressed heart transplant patients. Early diagnosis is very important and satisfactory results can be developed after antifungal therapy concomitant abscess drainage or surgical resection.
Keywords : Aspergillus, transplantation, immunosuppresive, amphoterisin B, infection
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