Surgical repair of infected peripheral graft and abdominal aortic aneurysmusing arterial homograft

We report a case of combined surgical repair including lower limb revascula rization (below-knee bypass) and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using cry opreserved arterial homograft. The patient experienced lower limb ischemia due to repeated thrombosis of a long-infected polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE ) graft, and was also shown to have a complicating abdominal aortic aneurys m. Infection was eradicated with total graft excision and intravenous antib iotics. Two-year patency of the in situ arterial homograft revascularizatio n was demonstrated with hemodynamic and tomographic controls; no degenerati ons have been found to date. Benefits of the use of in situ arterial homogr aft for arterial reconstruction may include improved hemodynamics and great er resistance to infection compared to when alloplastic materials are used. Because of the risk of allograft deterioration, close follow-up of the pat ient is required. DOI: 10.1007/s100169910031.