Skin-flap coverage of polytetrafluoroethylene vascular access graft exposed by previous infection

In selected patients with localized infection of polytetrafluoroethylene graft arteriovenous fistulas, the access route can be preserved by treatment with antibiotics and surgical drainage. However, such treatment may result in exposure of the graft, which in itself is a threat to continued survival of the graft. This article describes a simple method that has been successfully used to achieve skin coverage of such grafts.