Infected Abdominal Aortic Grafts

Aortic grafts were inserted in 1711 patients at Ottawa Civic Hospital (OCH) between 1976 and 1986. Aorto-iliac occlusive disease was the indication in 884 while in 827, the graft was inserted for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Graft infection occurred in 12 patients; six presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding due to aorto-enteric fistula (AEF) and the other six presenting with groin abscesses, mostly as a draining sinus. These were treated with graft excision and immediate extra-anatomic bypass. Seven patients died, giving a mortality rate of 58%. Three surviving patients required above-knee amputation. These results are comparable to the results of others in the literature; therefore, continuing assessment of all aspects of graft infection and the search for more effective methods of prevention and management are needed.