title: Long-term results following surgical management of aortic graft infection.
abstract: Between January 1970 and June 1988, a total of 45 patients with aortic prosthetic graft infection underwent removal of the infected aortic prosthesis. In addition, 36 of these patients also underwent revascularization via an extra-anatomic bypass. We analyzed the early and long-term results with respect to survival, limb salvage, freedom from infection, and extra-anatomic graft patency. The 30-day mortality was 24% (11/45), and the amputation rate was 11% (8/73). During a mean follow-up of 36 months (range, 2 to 144 months), 80% (24/30) of the patients remained free of infection and are considered cured. Infection in the extra-anatomic bypass graft was the most common cause of recurrent sepsis and the leading cause of late amputations (four of seven). By life-table methods, 1-year survival was 63% and 5-year survival was 49%. Limb salvage rates at 1 and 5 years were 79% and 66%, respectively. The primary patency rate of extra-anatomic bypass was 43% at 3 years, with the secondary patency rate improved to 65%. These early and late results are in marked contrast to the natural history of untreated aortic graft infection. Nonetheless, a perioperative mortality rate of 24%, a 5-year limb loss rate of 33%, and 3-year graft thrombosis rate of 35% are testimony to the serious nature of aortic graft infection and the need to develop better methods to prevent this complication.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery, UCLA Medical Center 90024-6904.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Quiñones-Baldrich
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001011:Aorta; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate