title: The superficial femoral vein as autogenous conduit in the treatment of prosthetic arterial infection.
abstract: Autogenous reconstruction is a well-accepted alternative treatment for prosthetic infection after reconstructive arterial surgery. Because of its technical complexity and the lack of suitable substitutes, the procedure remains limited to a few selected centers. We describe four patients with prosthetic infection after reconstructive surgery for lower limb ischemia. Treatment consisted of prosthetic excision and aortofemoral grafting with the use of the superficial femoral vein. All patients survived the operation and infection was eradicated in all cases. We conclude that the superficial femoral vein represents an acceptable arterial conduit in the treatment of these difficult cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Clinic Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevelsteen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods