ENDOVASCULAR STENT INFECTION

We report a case of iliac stent infection. Nine days after a 24-hour i nfusion of urokinase and right iliac artery stent deployment, the pati ent had fever, in addition to severe groin pain and petechiae isolated to the stented limb. The hospital course was complicated by sepsis, a dult respiratory distress syndrome, liver dysfunction, and renal insuf ficiency. Stent removal and iliac/femoral artery resection, as well as an above-knee amputation, were life-saving. Arterial and stent cultur es grew Staphylococcus aureus. Stent infection with arterial necrosis is a devastating, rare endovascular complication. Given its potential seriousness, we would recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics be fore stent deployment.