Management of vascular prosthetic infections: results of long-term follow-up.
An infected vascular prosthesis is a risk to life and limb, with many of the infections insidious in nature. A retrospective analysis with a minimum 49-month follow-up identified 18 patients (mean age, 61.3 years) with culture-positive infections and exposed prosthetic grafts in the infrainguinal region. All patients were managed with muscle flaps. Mean follow-up was 59 months, with a long-term salvage of infected prosthetic grafts in 16 of 18 patients; there was no loss of life or limb. Early, aggressive reconstruction of infected prosthetic grafts using a muscle flap technique saves graft, leg, and patient.
Zeltsman
D
D
Department of Surgery, Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Tzarnas
C D
CD
Kerstein
M D
MD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps