title: Treatment of periprosthetic soft tissue infection of the groin following vascular surgical procedures by means of a polyvinyl alcohol-vacuum sponge system.
abstract: Deep groin infections after prosthetic vascular surgical procedures represent a serious complication of surgical practice. Septicemia and/or erosive hemorrhage can both be consequences. In this situation, removal of the graft appears to be the only option. However, if the infection is detected early (type Szilagyi III), local treatment to eradicate the infection could serve as an alternative. Twenty-four patients with confirmed infection of the soft tissue adjacent to the prosthetic material in the groin were treated locally by implantation of a vacuum sponge system. Duration of this treatment was 2 weeks. All patients showed excellent tissue granulation of the wound area and the microbial stains were negative at the end of therapy. In 21 patients the wound could be primarily closed after explantation of the sponge. Three patients underwent open treatment because of a skin defect. After 12 months, the wounds had healed well in all patients. Histologic evaluation revealed a physiological healing process. Deep soft tissue infections of the groin adjacent to prosthetic vascular material (type Szilagyi III) can be treated effectively and safely with the vacuum sponge system. The treatment is inexpensive, easy to perform, and the initial vascular reconstruction can be preserved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. juergen.pinocy@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinocy
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Albes
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wicke
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruck
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ziemer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015503:Surgical Sponges; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol