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Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Surgical Technique for the Implantation of Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts and Subsequent In Vivo Monitoring
Published on: April 3, 2015
Multiple organ embolization with vegetation on an elephant trunk graft.
Miwa Tashiro1, Masaki Yamamoto2, Hideaki Nishimori2
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kochi University, Kohasu Oko-cho Nankoku-shi, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan. jm-tashiro-m@kochi-u.ac.jp.
A rare vascular graft infection occurred after elephant trunk technique surgery. Transesophageal echocardiography diagnosed vegetations, leading to successful antibiotic treatment without prosthesis removal.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The elephant trunk technique is used for total aortic arch replacement.
- Vascular graft infections are serious complications requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old woman developed fever and organ embolization post-surgery.
- Vegetations were identified on the elephant trunk graft via transesophageal echocardiography.
Findings:
- The graft infection led to vegetation formation and subsequent embolization.
- Long-term antibiotic therapy was effective in healing the graft infection with the prosthesis in situ.
Implications:
- Graft infection following the elephant trunk technique can lead to vegetations and embolic events.
- Transesophageal echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing such rare complications.
- Conservative management with antibiotics may be successful in treating vascular graft infections in this context.
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