AORTIC GRAFT INFECTION .1. CLASSIFICATION AND DIAGNOSTIC-IMAGING

Infection involving an aortic prosthesis is among the most challenging diagnostic and therapeutic complications in vascular surgery. Delays in diagnosis and treatment are associated with decreased patient survi val. Graft excision and revascularization by an extra-anatomic route o r autogenous repair is associated with a mortality of 15% to 20% and a n amputation rate of less than 10%. Carefully selected patients with l ate-appearing infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis can be sa fely treated by in situ graft replacement. Early diagnosis, coupled wi th surgical intervention that eradicates the infectious process, are k ey elements for successful treatment. In the majority of patients, lon g-term survival, free of infection, is possible but requires careful s urveillance for persistent or recurrent infection.