Abstract | BACKGROUND: CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 72 year old postoperative patient presented with persistent fever. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms demonstrated a lesion in the superior vena cava, protruding into the right atrium and infiltrating the atrial septum. Candida albicans grew in blood cultures as well as in the subclavian catheter tip culture. Anti-fungal and antithrombotic therapy was initiated. After 2 weeks treatment the lesion was diminished. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography has been proved efficient and cost-effective in guiding therapy in cases of catheter related infections. In the presented case the lesions in vena cava and the involvement of the endocardium were early identified by echocardiography. Moreover, a follow-up echocardiogram confirmed the efficiency of the therapeutic approach.
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Authors | Stavros Tzortzis, Stavros Apostolakis, Konstantinos Xenakis, Georgios Spiropoulos, Kyriakos Lazaridis |
Journal | Cases journal
(Cases J)
Vol. 1
Issue 1
Pg. 272
(Oct 24 2008)
ISSN: 1757-1626 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 18950511
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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