Infections of the aorta and iliac arteries. Report of 20 years experience in a single centre.
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective review of aorto-iliac infections in a single vascular surgery center.


METHODS
From a retrospective review of their experience in the last 20 years, the Authors analyze a series of 12 cases of aorto-iliac infection. Prognostic factors, surgical options and results are discussed and compared with the literature.


RESULTS
Infections of the aorta eventually associated with aneurysmal degeneration are uncommon (less than 3% of all aortic aneurysms) but still a life-threatening condition with high hospital mortality (25%). No statistical evaluation can be drawn from small series; however, early results are apparently influenced by emergency surgery and comorbidities affecting the immune response; in-situ reconstruction is associated with better long-term results (patency 100%, recurrent infection 0%).


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, in situ aortic grafting reconstruction associated with proper antibiotic therapy obtained satisfactory results in terms of mortality and long-term survival Endovascular treatment can be adopted in critical patients with prohibitive surgical risk.
Vascular Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart School of Medicine, "A. Gemelli" University Hospital, Rome, Italy. aferrante@rm.unicatt.it
Angela
A
Ferrante
Alessandro
A
Cina
Vasileios D
VD
Tsiopoulos
Francesco
F
Snider
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery