Limitations in the management of aortic graft infections

The use of aortic allografts has emerged as a management option in patients with aortic graft infections. We present a patient with a history of Takayasu's disease whose aortic graft infection was controlled with replacement of the excised infected aortic graft with an allograft. However, the patient died 9 months later after the rupture of a large anastomotic aortic aneurysm. Our report emphasizes the limitations in the management of aortic graft infections in patients with extensive vascular disease such as Takayasu's disease. This is the result of difficulties in performing extra-anatomical bypass as well as a possibly increased risk of formation of anastomotic aneurysms in these patients.