Aspergillus cyst of aortic valve bioprosthesis.

Aspergillus endocarditis (AE) is an ominous complication of cardiac surgery with a dismal prognosis. We present a 35-year-old female who developed AE 4 months after her aortic and mitral valve replacement. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed an aortic root abscess and a cystic mass attached to the aortic bioprosthesis. Intraoperatively, the cyst was filled with fungal material. The aortic bioprosthesis was replaced and the patient was treated with amphotericin B. Six weeks later her condition suddenly deteriorated and she died on the same day. Early performance of transesophageal echocardiography and extended blood culture is mandatory in suspected cases of AE.