[Experience with the treatment of suppuration surrounding synthetic vascular prostheses]

Experience with the conservative and operative treatment of suppurations around vascular prostheses in 16 patients is presented. Spread of the purulent inflammation around prostheses from the place of primary suppuration on the femur up to the portions proximal to the inguinal ligament was taking place within the first 1-2 weeks after the appearance of the first symptoms of suppuration. Partial resection of infected portions of the prostheses and substitution of them by autovenous grafts are thought to be more expedient within these terms. Such operations are less traumatic and technically more simple than interventions associated with a complete ablation of aorto-femoral prostheses and a simultaneous substitution of them by new vascular prostheses or transplants.