Small bowel infarction secondary to aspergillosis in a post-cardiac transplant patient: A case report

Aspergillos species are common causes of opportunistic infections in humans usually involving the lungs. The initial manifestations of disseminated aspergillosis most commonly appear within the lungs where aspergillos usually invades blood vessels and produces thrombosis resulting in nodular infarcts. However, the case reported herein represents an example in which bowel infarction was the initial manifestation of disseminated aspergillosis in a post cardiac transplantation patient in the absence of pulmonary symptoms. This atypical presentation underscores the importance of prevention and early detection of such infections especially considering the high morbidity and mortality with which they are associated.