Angioinvasive Aspergillus-associated Stroke in an Immunocompetent Host Following Cardiac Surgery and ECMO

Conclusions: Ischemic infarcts in the setting of CABG or ECMO are often presumed to be thromboembolic from the heart or device, related to underlying hemodynamic instability, or due to a clinically apparent systemic infection such as endocarditis. This report suggests that invasive cerebral aspergillosis should be considered in seemingly immunocompetent patients following CABG or ECMO. The mechanism is unclear, but may be related to systemic inflammatory dysregulation resulting in increased susceptibility to uncommon pathogens.
Source: The Neurologist - Category: Neurology Tags: Case Report/Case Series Source Type: research