[Computer tomography after reconstructive vascular surgery of the abdominal aorta. Can fluid around the aortic...

15 patients who had elective aortic reconstruction for infra-renal aortic aneurysm (nine patients) or aortoiliac occlusive disease (six patients) were evaluated using postoperative computerized tomography. The assessment was performed 1-2 weeks, 6-8 weeks and 6-8 months after implantation of woven Dacron graft. All patients were without clinical or laboratory signs of infection. The presence or absence of retroperitoneal air or fluid collections was assessed. In patients operated on for aneurysms, perigraft fluid was present in two cases 6-8 weeks after operation, but had disappeared within 6-8 months. Even after only 1-2 weeks, no accumulation of periprosthetic fluid was found in patients operated on for occlusive disease. Retroperitoneal air was not seen in any of the cases. It is concluded that perigraft fluid may be a "normal" phenomenon during the early postoperative period in patients operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysm.