Vascular Graft Infections: A Personal Experience

Abstract

Fifty-five vascular graft infections were personally managed by the author over an 8-year period. For 22 patients with aortic graft infection, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common pathogen (18 of 22 patients), presenting as limb thrombosis in nine and pseudoaneurysm in five. All patients underwent staged extra-anatomic reconstruction and graft resection 4–5 days later. For 33 patients with peripheral infection, S. aureus was the most common pathogen (29 of 33 patients), presenting as clinical graft sepsis usually within months of initial operation. Local therapy was successful in seven of nine patients, whereas graft resection with autologous reconstruction achieved limb salvage in all 11 patients involved. Overall, the mortality rate was 9.1% for 22 aortic and zero for 33 peripheral infections; amputation rates were 14 and 12%, respectively.