What we did and why
Correct answer: C
After discussion with the oncology team and the patient’s family, the decision was made to proceed to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy. A 15 cm ischemic bowel segment was identified without perforation (figure 2). Approximately 50 cm of small bowel was resected to achieve healthy margins and primary anastomosis was performed with a stapler device. The decision to create a primary anastomosis relied on the fact that the necrotic bowel was in the mid-jejunum and therefore an ileostomy would have been too proximal. Intraoperatively, he required norepinephrine and vasopressin for blood pressure support. A transesophageal echo was unremarkable. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit overnight, pressors were weaned and he was extubated the following day. He was transferred to the floor and his diet was advanced on postoperative day (POD) 3 when he passed flatus. On POD 4, he was noted to have new fevers, with increased abdominal pain, lactic acidosis and respiratory decompensation. He continued to be neutropenic with white cell count of 0.1x 109 /L and ANC 0. His lactic acid at that time was 3.7 mmol/L. In the setting of acute worsening, amphotericin B (AmBisome) was started. Repeat CT scan showed an area of necrotic small bowel remote from the initial anastomosis created during his prior surgery. An expedited pathology report of the resected small bowel revealed invasive fungal forms in both the omental and small intestinal resection specimens, invading through blood vessel walls, with associated hemorrhage and transmural ischemic necrosis, consistent with mucormycosis (figure 3A,B). This finding confirmed that the source of his bowel ischemia was likely hematologic dissemination of mucormycosis with septic emboli. Amphotericin B was added to his antimicrobials. The risks of a repeat exploratory laparotomy and bowel resection were deemed quite high and the chances of cure were low. After further goals of care discussions with his family and the oncology team, the decision was made to proceed to comfort measures and the patient died the following day.
Intraoperative photo showing a well-demarcated segment of small bowel, concerning for a distal infected embolus.
Microscopic slides showing findings consistent with mucormycosis. (A) angioinvasion, thrombosis, tissue necrosis; (B) fungal elements.
Mucormycosis is a type of fungus seen in immunocompromised patients with neutropenia, most commonly in those with an underlying hematologic condition and those with increased available serum iron.1 A hallmark of this infection is extensive angioinvasion with vessel thrombosis and tissue necrosis, which allows it to easily disseminate. Mucor infections can affect the rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal systems, or be disseminated. Only 2% to 11% of mucormycosis infections affect the gastrointestinal tract, and the majority of the time the colon is involved.2 Because the gastrointestinal infection of mucormycosis is often acute and rapidly progressing, it is diagnosed most often post mortem. In fact, in some case series Mucor infection was diagnosed antemortem in only 9% of the cases, mostly in the rhino-orbito-cerebral and cutaneous systems (91% to 100%) but 0% of the time in the gastrointestinal tract.3 The diagnosis of mucormycosis is difficult as it relies exclusively on culture and histopathology from the affected tissues. There are currently no serum fungal tests that can diagnose M ucor infections. Serum fungal assays such as 1,3-beta-D-glucan and Aspergillus galactomannan have no utility in Mucor because of its distinct characteristics. There are case reports describing a novel PCR that may allow for earlier detection of Mucor, but this is not yet widely available.4 The overall survival of patients with localized mucormycosis is 50%, but disseminated infections have a mortality rate of nearly 100%, worst in patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant.1 5 The treatment for mucormycosis is amphotericin B or amphotericin B lipid complex with caspofungin, and posaconazole can be used a second line.6 Caspofungin alone is not sufficient.7 Surgical debulking in patients with hematologic malignancies and gastrointestinal mucormycosis can have a significant effect on survival (50% with surgery vs. 15% without).2 The timing of presentation can mimic typhlitis, in which case surgery would not be imminently indicated. Hemodynamic instability, however, should raise the suspicion and prompt physicians to consider mucormycosis as an etiology.
In retrospect, our patient’s clinical presentation was consistent with mucormycosis. His acute presentation of left lower quadrant pain was distinct from what would be expected with typhlitis. Despite the fact that he underwent expeditious surgical resection of the affected small bowel with a rapid recovery, his antifungal coverage was not expanded to cover Mucor until POD 4 due to concern for drug toxicity. A higher degree of suspicion for disseminated mucormycosis infection might have promoted the early addition of amphotericin to his regimen. The expedited review of the resected bowel segment and the diagnosis of mucormycosis influenced downstream decisions to not proceed with a reoperation. We highlight this case because it represents a very rare cause of small bowel ischemia, where a high degree of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis and accurately predict prognosis. Surgeons must be familiar with the implications of this infection so as to be able to advise patients and families about management, treatment options and prognosis.
