Autologous basilic vein for in situ replacement of infected prosthetic vascular grafts: initial experience

Successful treatment of prosthetic vascular infection usually requires graft removal with or without replacement. A variety of materials have been used for in situ replacement, with femoral vein being the preferred autologous conduit in the literature for the aortoiliac segment. We present three cases of prosthetic infection treated successfully by in situ replacement with autologous basilic vein harvested from the upper arm. This vessel, which closely matches the iliofemoral arteries in diameter, may be a suitable alternative to femoral vein for in situ replacement of infected iliac and femoral grafts.