Graft infections in aortoiliac arterial reconstructions

Twenty-four patients with 25 infected prosthetic grafts have been treated at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg over the past 20 years. Nineteen primary operations were done for aortoiliac occlusive disease and 6 for abdominal aortic aneurysms. The patients presented from 2 weeks to 9 years after the first operation. In 16 of the graft infections there was a groin abscess, a draining sinus or a false aneurysm. The commonest method of treatment was excision of the entire graft with immediate extra-anatomic arterial reconstruction. Six patients died. Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment are emphasized.