PROSTHETIC VASCULAR GRAFT INFECTION - DEFECT COVERING WITH DELAYED VERTICAL RECTUS-ABDOMINIS MUSCULAR FLAP (VRAM) AND RECTUS-FEMORIS FLAP

Prosthetic vascular graft infection is associated with high rates of m orbidity and mortality. When infections lead to an open exposure of va scular prosthesis special techniques may be necessary to cover tissue defects in regions with often very poor circulation/perfusion conditio ns. Even when there are large tissue defects associated with vascular prosthetic graft infections and exposure of prosthesis local cure can be achieved after radical debridement and defect coverage through tran sposition of myocutaneous flaps. The cases of two patients with open e xposure of prosthesis in the groin who had been successfully treated b y delayed vertical rectus abdominis muscular flap (VRAM) or rectus fem oris rotation are presented. The contralateral VRAM myocutaneous flap is an excellent alternative if local measures fail to close large groi n defects with exposed prosthesis. In addition the delayed flap rotati on offers a greater safety in conditioning the vascularity of the flap .