Graft-enteric erosion in patients with retained defunctionalized aortic prostheses: a report of two cases

Two patients who underwent "redo" aortic graft replacement in which the original thrombosed graft was oversewn but not removed subsequently developed graft-enteric erosions that involved the oversewn graft. Each patient underwent successful removal of all intraabdominal graft material, oversewing of the aortic stump and extraanatomical bypass. These cases emphasize the need to remove any defunctionalized graft material and to cover all new and retained graft with soft tissue at the time of aortic graft reoperation if graft-enteric erosion is to be avoided.