Management of Brachial Artery Pseudoaneurysms Secondary to Drug Abuse

Arterial pseudoaneurysm secondary to parenteral drug abuse poses a difficult problem to vascular surgeons. This study prospectively evaluates the outcome of surgical treatment for brachial artery pseudoaneurysms secondary to drug abuse. From February 1996 to July 2003, all brachial artery pseudoaneurysms secondary to drug abuse as diagnosed by duplex imaging were recruited for the study. Aneurysm excision, ligation, and radical debridement along with revascularization by axial reanastomosis were performed for all patients except one with chronic degenerative fusiform aneurysm, who received aneurysm resection and interposition reverse saphenous vein graft. Upper limb arterial flow was evaluated clinically and with hand-held Doppler in the perioperative period and during subsequent follow-up. During the study period, nine consecutive patients presented with cubital fossa swelling following deliberate drug arterial injections. Two of them suffered from thromboembolic complications and were managed conservatively by heparinization. Seven patients (six male, one female), aged 32-53, were confirmed to have brachial artery pseudoaneurysms by duplex scan and recruited for data analysis. Pseudoaneurysms ranged 10-40 mm in size. One ex-heroin abuser, who presented with median nerve palsy, underwent aneurysm resection and reversed saphenous vein interposition. The other six patients presented with painful pulsatile cubital fossa swellings. They underwent aneurysm resection, extensive debridement, and primary axial reanastomosis. There were no perioperative procedure-related complications. With an average follow-up of 38.7 months, no recurrences or neurovascular complications were detected. Routine revascularization by aneurysm resection and axial anastomosis for brachial artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to drug abuse is a safe, effective approach with low associated morbidity.     

Femoral Pseudoaneurysm in Drug Addicts—Excision without Revascularization is a Viable Option

PURPOSE: To present a series of patients presenting with femoral pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: Seventeen patients who presented with a femoral pseudoaneurysm during a 1 year period were included in this study. Parenteral drug abuse was the most common aetiological factor. The femoral artery was most commonly involved at its bifurcation. Sixteen patients (94%) had excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessel and debridement without any revascularization and one patient (6%) had reverse saphenous grafting after excision and ligation of vessels. Four amputations (23%) were performed. Three (17%) were major limb amputations, which included one above knee and two below knee amputations. Four patients (23%) developed intermittent claudication. CONCLUSION: Excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessels and wide debridement without immediate revascularization in infected pseudoaneurysms is a safe and effective treatment.     

Vascular complications of drug abuse: an Indian experience

Background: Vascular complications resulting from i.v. drug abuse constitute a range of clinical problems from simple to serious. In addition, patients who present with these complications frequently have viral infections, which are a hazard to health care workers. Patients and Methods: The present study is a retrospective review of 46 male drug addicts with 52 vascular complications (45 arterial, seven venous). Pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery was the most common complication (n = 35). Fourteen of these patients underwent ligation of the common, superficial and deep femoral arteries above and below the pseudoaneurysm. Twenty‐one underwent bipolar ligation of the common femoral artery after complete excision of the pseudoaneurysm. The decision to revascularize was based on the presence or absence of postligation Doppler signal. Arterial reconstruction was performed in five patients. All eight brachial artery pseudoaneurysms were ligated and excised, and deep vein thrombosis was managed with anticoagulation. Results: There was no mortality but three patients had to undergo late amputations of the lower limb after successful salvage following the initial surgery. The median postoperative ankle‐brachial indices, after bipolar and triple ligations were 0.51 and 0.46, respectively. Positive blood cultures were present in 30% of patients and tissue cultures were positive in 72%, the most common organism isolated was methicillin‐sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Six patients were positive for viral markers. The median hospital stay was 43 days. Conclusion: Ligation and excision of pseudoaneurysms without revascularization is safe for drug addicts provided it is based on the presence of a postligation Doppler signal.     

Infected femoral pseudoaneurysm in intravenous drug abusers.

The result of surgical treatment of 21 infected femoral pseudoaneurysms in 19 intravenous drug addicts was evaluated. Eight pseudoaneurysms involved only the common or superficial femoral artery and 13 involved the femoral bifurcation. Excision and ligation was performed as the sole procedure in 19 instances, and revascularization by bypass through the obturator route was carried out in two. The mean follow-up was 12.3 months. One patient required an above-knee amputation. The resultant ischaemia was greater after triple vessel ligation (mean ankle:brachial pressure index (ABPI) 0.41) than single vessel ligation (mean ABPI 0.58). Postoperative bleeding occurred in one patient. Intermittent claudication was present in 14 patients after excision and ligation. Claudication was universal and more severe after triple than after single vessel ligation. There was no subsequent limb loss. Excision and ligation is safe and is the treatment of choice for infected femoral pseudoaneurysm in drug addicts.     

Infected False Aneurysms of the Limbs Secondary to Chronic Intravenous Drug Abuse: Analysis of Perioperative Considerations and Operative Outcomes

Purpose To discuss the perioperative considerations and operative outcomes of 26 intravenous (i.v.) drug abusers who presented with infected false aneurysms of the limbs. Methods The subjects were 20 men and 6 women with pseudoaneurysms (mean age 34 years, range 19–53 years). The femoral and brachial arteries were most commonly involved. All patients, except for those with active bleeding, underwent digital subtraction angiography or Doppler ultrasonography, or both. Treatment consisted of excision and ligation of the aneurysm and local debridement, followed by revascularization with a vein graft or vein patch angioplasty. Results The presenting symptoms and signs included a pulsatile mass (69%), ischemic pain (23%), active bleeding (38.5%), signs of inflammation (61.5%), and positive blood culture (31%). Bleeding complications developed in two patients, who underwent subsequent extra-anatomic bypass. One of these patients had hip disarticulation and eventually died. None of the remaining patients had claudication or required an amputation. The mean follow-up period was 24 months (range: 3–50 months). Only five (19.2%) patients received drug rehabilitation, whereas the remaining patients admitted to continued drug abuse after discharge from hospital. Conclusions Limb salvage with immediate revascularization is safe and achieves functionality; therefore, its use is justified. Recidivism and continued abuse is the usual consequence after discharge from hospital, making recovery difficult.     

Femoral Pseudoaneurysms in Drug Addicts

Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Twenty-four pseudoaneurysms involved the femoral bifurcation and were treated by triple ligation of the common femoral, superficial femoral, and profunda femoris arteries. Seven other limbs underwent ligation of the common femoral artery alone, and three had superficial femoral artery ligation. Nineteen limbs had the external iliac artery ligated in addition to the femoral ligation for better proximal control. The mean postoperative ankle–brachial index (ABI) was 0.43 and 0.52 in those with triple ligation and those with single-vessel ligation, respectively. There was no hospital mortality, and all patients were discharged with a viable limb. The duration of follow-up ranged from 2 to 36 months (mean 15.5 months). Four patients were asymptomatic, but the rest suffered some degree of intermittent claudication. No delayed limb loss was identified. We conclude that systemic antibiotics active against MSSA are the antibiotics of choice in drug addicts with infected femoral pseudoaneurysms. Ligation and excision of the pseudoaneurysm without revascularization is safe, with acceptable morbidity and a low limb loss rate.     

Management options in the treatment of femoral pseudoaneurysms secondary to intravenous drug abuse: A case series

IntroductionInfected femoral pseudoaneurysms are a common presentation in intravenous drug users with little consensus as to the optimum management of these patients. Whilst emergency revascularisation options are available, excision and ligation of the femoral artery remains the most common operative intervention but risks leaving the patient with critical ischaemia or intermittent claudication. This case series reviewed the outcomes of 4 patients who underwent excision-ligation without revascularisation of an infected femoral pseudoaneurysm at a district general hospital.PresentationFour patients (2 male, 2 female) with infected femoral pseudoaneurysms presented via the emergency room with diagnosis confirmed with contrast cross-sectional imaging. All patients underwent emergency excision and ligation of the pseudoaneurysm without revascularisation. One patient returned to theatre with critical ischaemia necessitating a hindquarter amputation. The remaining 3 patients were discharged without claudication symptoms.ConclusionWith the identification of suitable patients and pre-operative optimisation, revascularisation can be performed in the emergency setting with an extra-anatomical bypass appearing to confer the best results. Currently endovascular approaches appear to be used only as a bridge to a future definitive revascularisation procedure, however, there are several case reports documenting successful outcomes when using a stent graft alongside a prolonged course of antibiotics. For the majority of patients, excision-ligation without revascularisation is both safe and effective as few are left with symptoms of limb ischaemia.     

Routine revascularization with resection of infection femoral pseudoaneurysms from substance abuse

Infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysms in narcotic addicts present challenging management options. Our policy of routine revascularization is based on the concern that a high rate of amputations must follow ligation and resection alone or with selective delayed revascularization. Fifteen of 16 patients with infected pseudoaneurysms of femoral arteries, treated with resection and bypass grafts, were observed from 1 to 44 months. Obturator bypass grafts were used in 10 patients, iliac-femoral grafts in three, axillopopliteal in one, and right external iliac crossover to left popliteal in one patient. One limb, unsalvageable at presentation, was amputated primarily, along with resection of pseudoaneurysm and femoral artery ligation, without bypass grafting. One iliac-femoral graft became infected and then thrombosed 4 months after operation. Unsuitable distal arteries and impending necrosis led to above-knee amputation. One late failure among 15 revascularization attempts (7%) is significantly lower than the 11% to 33% amputation rates reported in the literature with resection of pseudoaneurysm alone and delayed selective revascularization. The other 14 patients had functioning limbs without claudication or rest pain. Our experience indicates that revascularization at the time of resection of infected pseudoaneurysm offers better prospects for limb salvage.     

Infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in drug addicts: the beneficial use of the internal iliac artery for arterial reconstruction

BACKGROUND: Infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (IFAP) is a severe complication in parenteral drug abusers, with difficult and controversial management. Ligation alone without revascularization is frequently associated with later intermittent claudication and limb amputation. Furthermore, arterial reconstruction with a synthetic or venous conduit is limited because of a contaminated field and, often, unavailability of autologous venous grafts. In this study, we present our experience with the internal iliac artery (IIA) as a graft for arterial reconstruction after IFAP excision in these patients. METHODS: Data of 14 consecutive patients who presented with IFAP secondary to parenteral drug abuse from 2001 to 2005 were analyzed. Twelve patients (85.7%) were male. The median age was 27 years (range, 19-42 years). In 13 cases, the IFAP involved the common femoral artery, and in 1 case it involved the profunda femoris artery (PFA). In nine patients, we used the IIA for arterial reconstruction (five as a patch and four as an interposition graft), whereas in two patients the arterial deficit was repaired with a great saphenous vein patch. In two cases, an extra-anatomic bypass with a synthetic polytetrafluoroethylene graft was performed. In one patient, the pseudoaneurysm involved the PFA and was treated with excision and ligation of the PFA. RESULTS: All nine patients who underwent revascularization with the use of IIA were free of claudication symptoms. None of them experienced any perioperative complications, had signs of reinfection, or required limb amputation during the follow-up period (median, 19 months; range, 4-52 months). Regarding the remaining five patients, one died 25 days after surgery because of multiorgan failure, and one underwent reoperation because of proximal anastomotic rupture of a synthetic graft. The latter patient finally underwent a transmetatarsal amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The use of IIA for arterial reconstruction after IFAP excision in drug abusers is safe and effective. These preliminary results indicate that the implementation of this technique offers many advantages compared with traditional treatment options.     

大隐静脉移植治疗髂股动脉假性动脉瘤

目的 探讨因注射吸毒致髂股动脉假性动脉瘤一期动脉重建术的治疗效果.方法 本研究系按照时间序列的单中心研究,回顾性分析2004年3月至2007年10月澳门仁伯爵综合医院收治的由于注射吸毒导致的髂股动脉假性动脉瘤21例的临床资料,其中男15例,女6例,平均年龄31.3岁,瘤体最大直径3.0～7.5 cm.有14例以动脉瘤破裂出血为首发症状就诊.应用对此类病例设计的髂股部单一弧形切口,取同侧大隐静脉倒置搭桥对本组21例假性动脉瘤患者进行治疗.结果 21例手术均获成功,随访19例,随访时间2～36个月,失访2例.无围手术期死亡病例,无术后心、脑等器官并发症,手术后腹股沟出血、波动性肿物均消失.术后股部血肿1例,术后切口感染不愈合、股部窦道形成1例,同侧大腿前内侧感觉异常1例,术后间歇性跛行1例. 结论 获取适宜的自体大隐静脉用于血管重建是对该病治疗的前提.应用单一弧形切口取同侧大隐静脉倒置搭桥是可行的.对吸毒致髂股动脉假性动脉瘤行动脉重建术有利于减少间歇性跛行的发生.     

Infected femoral artery false aneurysms in drug addicts: evolution of selective vascular reconstruction

Fifty-four infected femoral artery false aneurysms resulting from chronic drug addiction were managed surgically with an 11% amputation rate and no mortality. Angiography localized the arterial segment involved, which in turn influenced the type of operation performed. Twenty-six aneurysms of anatomically isolated femoral artery segments were ligated and excised without resultant amputation. However, of the 28 aneurysms involving the common femoral bifurcation, 18 required triple ligation and excision that led to six amputations. Six of the 28 aneurysms were reconstructed with autogenous saphenous vein grafts, three by prosthetic grafts, and one by primary anastomosis. No amputations followed vascular reconstruction. However, all synthetic grafts eventually developed septic complications that required graft removal. On the basis of this experience we recommend ligation and excision for single artery segment aneurysms and immediate autogenous reconstruction for selected common femoral bifurcation lesions. This approach has proved safe and has reduced our amputation and graft complication rates. Extensive uncontrollable wound sepsis may contraindicate revascularization. Under these circumstances we estimate a 33% risk of amputation when the common femoral bifurcation is excised.     

Arterial reconstruction of infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysms using superficial femoral-popliteal vein

BACKGROUND: Infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (IFAPs) secondary to percutaneous arterial access, injection of illegal substances, and from infected synthetic grafts, appear to be increasing in incidence. Ligation of IFAPs without revascularization offers control of infection but may risk limb ischemia. Revascularization with extraanatomic synthetic grafts may risk reinfection and abrupt thrombosis. Excision of IFAPs with revascularization using superficial femoral popliteal vein (SFPV) provides both control of infection and excellent limb perfusion. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was conducted of patients diagnosed with IFAP who underwent resection and revascularization with SFPV at a single medical center. Outcomes measured included reinfection and amputation rate. These were compared with other series using various methods to treat IFAPs. RESULTS: Eleven patients with IFAP were encountered from 1992 to 2004. Mean age was 64 years (+/-10 SD). Five patients developed IFAP secondary to percutaneous arterial access procedures. Four patients developed infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysms secondary to synthetic graft infection. Two patients developed IFAP secondary to injection of illegal substances in the femoral region. All patients had positive wound cultures initially. Staphylococcus was the most common organism found in wound cultures. All patients underwent resection of IFAP with lower extremity revascularization using SFPV. There was no incidence of limb ischemia and no perioperative deaths in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Excision of IFAP with revascularization can be successfully achieved using SFPV. This method may prove to be superior to other methods with apparent higher patency rates and resistance to reinfection.     

血管重建治疗注射毒品所致股动脉假性动脉瘤

目的探讨注射毒品所致股动脉假性动脉瘤的外科治疗方法。方法对14例注射毒品所致股动脉假性动脉瘤患者的临床资料进行回顾分析。9例直接采用ePTFE人工血管行原位移植间置术;4例采用自体大隐静脉原位间置移植术;1例行单纯股深动脉结扎术。结果全部病例术后患肢供血良好,无肢体缺血表现,其中11例患者成功随访1～45个月,1例患者出院后出现伤口感染,余患者伤口均在1个月内愈合,现患肢均无缺血症状,活动自如。结论吸毒所致股动脉假性动脉瘤切除后血管重建有利于保证下肢血供,在患者不能提供合适的自体大隐静脉移植时,人工血管原位移植仍是治疗假性股动脉瘤的有效方法。术中彻底清创及术后伤口引流、加强抗炎是预防术后人工血管并发感染的最主要措施。     

Surgical Management of Infected Pseudoaneurysms in Intravenous Drug Abusers: Single Institution Experience and a Proposed Algorithm

Background  Vascular complications from intravenous drug abuse pose significant challenges to vascular surgeons. No formalized polices have been reached on surgical management of the resultant infected pseudoaneurysm. Methods  A retrospective review of all patients who underwent surgery for pseudoaneurysms due to chronic intravenous drug abuse from July 2005 to February 2008 was performed. Results  A total of 15 patients with infected pseudoaneurysms from chronic intravenous drug abuse were operated on during the study period. The sites of involvement were restricted to the femoral (86.7%) and brachial (13.3%) areas. The drug involved was buprenorphine (Subutex) in all cases. Pain over the limb swelling (100%), pulsatility (60%), and symptoms suggestive of septicemia (46.7%) were the most common symptoms. Staphylococcus aureus was present in 93.3%. Diagnosis was achieved clinically in 26.7%, by duplex ultrasonography in 60.0%, and by computed tomography (CT) angiography in 13.3%. In the two patients with brachial pseudoaneurysms, the brachial artery was ligated in one, and a basilic vein patch was used in the other. In the 13 patients with femoral pseudoaneurysms, the pseudoaneurysm was ligated and excised in 8 (61.5%), and immediate reconstructive bypass surgery was performed in 5 (38.5%). Two patients had critical ischemia after ligation and required reconstructive bypass surgery a few weeks later. Postoperative complications included claudication, digital gangrene, localized wound infection, and rebleeding. There was no associated mortality. Conclusions   Pseudoaneurysm from intravenous drug abuse continues to pose significant challenges to surgeons worldwide, ranging from an accurate diagnosis to the choice of surgery. The aims of surgery must be to achieve adequate débridement and control infection and hemorrhage. Any associated postoperative complications must be identified and dealt with.     

Management of infected lower extremity autologous vein grafts by selective graft preservation.

Between 1975 and 1991, we treated 16 patients with infected lower extremity autologous vein grafts performed for limb salvage by complete graft preservation. Traditional treatment of these infections includes immediate graft excision and complex revascularization procedures to prevent limb loss. The infection involved an intact anastomosis in 12 patients or the body of a patent graft in 4 patients. None of the patients was systemically septic. All patients were treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics. Six patients were treated by placement of autologous tissue on the exposed graft (4 rotational muscle flaps, 2 skin grafts), and 10 were treated with antibiotic-soaked dressing changes and repeated operative débridements to achieve delayed secondary wound healing. This treatment resulted in a 19% (3 of 16) mortality rate and an 8% (1 of 13) amputation rate in survivors. Of the six patients managed by autologous tissue placement onto the infected graft, five patients had wounds that healed without complications, and one died of a myocardial infarction. Of the 10 patients treated by delayed secondary wound healing, 2 developed anastomotic hemorrhage, which resulted in death in 1 patient and above-knee amputation in the other, 1 died of a myocardial infarction, 1 developed graft thrombosis, and 6 had wounds that healed. Placement of autologous tissue to cover an exposed, infected patent vein graft with intact anastomoses may prevent graft dessication, disruption, and thrombosis, which renders graft preservation an easier, safer method of treatment compared with routine graft excision.     

Infected venous pseudoaneurysm. A complication of drug addiction

There has been an increase in the incidence of major vascular complications of intravenous drug addiction. We studied five patients who had infected venous pseudoaneurysms of the femoral vein. Patients may have cryptic sepsis or an infected hematoma from venous rupture. The vein containing pus may drain through a venipuncture site. Treatment is complete excision of the involved vein with packing of the wound. Complications due to septic embolization or metastatic infection from septicemia are common. Venous reconstruction is unwarranted.     

血流重建术及动脉结扎术治疗慢性感染性股部动脉假性动脉瘤的疗效比较

目的探讨毒品注射所致的慢性感染性股部动脉假性动脉瘤（CIFA）的合理外科治疗方法。方法对我院血管外科2007年7月至2010年6月收治的44例CIFA患者按住院号单双号分组,单号为第一组（20例）行主干动脉血流重建术,双号为第二组（24例）行主干动脉结扎术。结果第一组14例（70％）术后无任何并发症。6例（30％）术后出现严重感染．取出移植物后行二期血流重建术;第二组20例（83．3％）术后无任何并发症,4例（16．7％）出现间歇性跛行因而行二期血流重建术。所有患者行一期或二期手术后均康复出院,无一例患者行截肢术。两组最终手术成功率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,但第二组一期手术成功率显著高于第一组（P〈0．05）,第二组出现严重并发症并行二期血流重建的病例显著低于第一组（P〈0．05）。随访5个月至3年,所有患者均未出现间歇性跛行等缺血性症状及患肢缺血性坏死等严重并发症。结论主干动脉结扎术是CIFA的合理手术方式,必要时可行二期血流重建术。     

Analysis of vascular complications in intra-venous drug addicts after puncture of femoral vessels

BACKGROUND: Intravenous drug abuse is a global social and health care problem. Vascular complications following intravascular inguinal self-injection of addictive drugs are rarely seen. An efficient therapeutic concept is needed because, besides the risk of vascular injuries, infections ranging up to systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis might occur. METHODS: This was a single center retrospective analysis of vascular complications in drug addicts from 1994 to 2002 in an university hospital. A systematic literature review in MEDLINE was performed with the following key words: 1 vascular, 2 complications, 3 drugs, 4 addicts, 5 mycotic aneurysms. RESULTS: 10 patients with a long lasting history of i. v. drug abuse (median: 16.1 years, range: 10-28 years) and vascular complications were included in this study. The mean age was 40.2 years (range 32-50 years). 5 patients showed pain and tumescence of the inguinal region at the time of admission. 7/10 patients had a poor general health and nutritional status. 2 patients had a hepatitis-B- and C-infection, 7 patients were hepatitis C Ag positive. All patients were HIV negative. 1 patient had an older deep venous leg thrombosis that was treated conservatively. In six cases, we saw an intraoperative arterial bleeding; in five cases pseudoaneurysms. The patients were treated with 5 venous interpositions, 4 venous patch plastics, 1 end-to-end anastomosis and 2 prosthetic grafts. 3 thrombectomies were performed. One time we performed a ligation of the pseudoaneurysm without reconstruction. Six reconstructions were covered with a biological seal. One thigh amputation was necessary; no patient died. In 2 patients with severe problems, we performed 11 operative revisions. The systematic literature review in MEDLINE showed no evidenced based therapy regimen. CONCLUSION: We favour the resection of the aneurysm including a radical debridement of the wound with secondary wound healing. In the case of an isolated aneurysm of the arteria femoralis superficialis or the arteria profunda femoris, a ligation or excision without reconstruction is possible with a low risk of postoperative complications. A reconstruction with autologous material is necessary in the case of aneurysms of the common femoral artery or its bifurcation. The reconstructed vessel should be covered with a biological seal, e. g. omentum majus. If there is no autologous material available for the reconstruction, we recommend the ligation without reconstruction, because the results after implantation of artificial vascular prostheses are not satisfying.     

Prosthetic patch remnants to treat infected arterial grafts

PURPOSE: Our previous experience with the traditional management of infected prosthetic arterial grafts, which included graft excision and vein patch repair of the involved artery, was complicated by a high incidence of vein patch rupture. This study assessed the treatment of infected prosthetic grafts with subtotal graft excision and oversewing of small graft remnants. METHODS: During the last 20 years, we treated 53 wounds involving 45 infected prosthetic grafts in 42 patients by means of subtotal graft excision and oversewing of a residual 2- to 3-mm graft remnant (patch) at an intact arterial anastomosis. This technique was selectively used to maintain patency of small-diameter arteries (41 common femoral, five deep femoral, three axillary, two iliac, and two popliteal), which were critical for limb salvage or amputation healing. This strategy avoided difficult dissection of the underlying artery in scarred wounds and obviated the placement of a new patch in an infected field. Graft remnants were polytetrafluoroethylene in 51 cases and Dacron in two cases. Of the 45 grafts, 31 were occluded and 14 were patent. All infected tissue was widely debrided, wet-to-dry dressing changes were performed three times daily, and appropriate intravenous antibiotics were administered for at least 1 week. Secondary bypass grafting procedures were performed as needed to achieve limb salvage. The follow-up period in surviving patients averaged 32 months (range, 1 to 218 months). RESULTS: No complications were directly attributable to prosthetic patch remnants in 92% of cases (49 of 53 cases). Six of 42 patients (14%) died during hospitalization (three of cardiac complications and three of sepsis with multiple organ failure). Two infected pseudoaneurysms developed 8 and 34 months after surgery, and two wounds failed to heal. Sixteen secondary bypass grafting procedures were necessary to achieve limb salvage. Patch oversewing led to limb salvage without the need for secondary revascularization in 26 other cases and to the successful healing of 10 amputated limbs when secondary revascularization was not possible. CONCLUSION: Prosthetic patch remnants are a useful adjunct that simplify management of infected prosthetic grafts, are associated with a low incidence of wound complications, and help maintain patency of essential collaterals to achieve limb salvage or heal an amputation.     

Surgical treatment of infected aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic and abdominal aorta

BACKGROUND: To review the outcome of infected aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic and abdominal aorta treated in a major teaching hospital. METHODS: Between December 1994 and January 2003, 13 infected aortic aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms (5 thoracic, 4 paravisceral, 4 infrarenal) in 10 consecutive patients were treated surgically. Aortic debridement with in situ reconstruction is our standard practice. Endovascular repair was offered to suitable patients with thoracic aortic involvement. RESULTS: There were six men and four women with a mean age of 63 years. The commonest pathogen was Salmonella species, accounting for 50% of the cases. Aortic debridement with in situ revascularization was performed for six patients with visceral reconstruction in four of them. One patient with aortic bifurcation involvement and gross purulent infection had ligation and debridement followed by right axillobifemoral bypass. Four infected thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysms in three other patients underwent endovascular repair. There was no hospital death, limb loss, renal failure, or intestinal ischemia. There were two late deaths from sepsis and pneumonia at 3 months and 77 months after operation. Eight patients were alive after a mean follow-up of 36 months and no late graft infection was evident. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for infected aortic aneurysms with in situ reconstruction is associated with favorable outcome and good long-term result. Endovascular repair has a potential role.