Aortobipopliteal Bypass Grafting for In Situ Replacement of Infected Aortobifemoral Prosthesis

Conventional treatment of an infected aortobifemoral graft includes total graft excision and ex situ bypass grafting, but has been associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the presence of infection in the groin makes limb revascularization problematic. There is increasing evidence that in situ replacement of an infected graft can achieve promising results in selected patients. We present a case of an aortobifemoral graft infection, affecting both the groin as well as the entire pelvis. The patient underwent successful in situ graft replacement with a new aortobipopliteal prosthesis via an alternative extraperitoneal route.     

Femorofemoral bypass with an infrascrotal perineal approach for the patient with an infected groin wound

A technique is presented for revascularization of patients having a groin wound infection, which minimizes the risk of recurrent graft infection. A femorofemoral bypass with a subcutaneous perineal tunnel is constructed farther from the infected groin wound than the standard subcutaneous suprapubic tunnel. The route of the graft appears to result in neither excessive tension on the graft when the leg is abducted nor kinking of the graft when the leg is adducted. Long-term follow-up will be needed to compare the patency of this route with the standard suprapubic tunnel in patients with an infected groin wound who require a femorofemoral bypass graft.     

Retro-sartorius bypass in the treatment of graft infection after peripheral vascular surgery

Extra-anatomic bypass is preferred for revascularization after removal of infected vascular grafts. The obturator canal technique has been used to bypass an infected field in the groin, although this method has not always been definitive because of several drawbacks. We present a unique method of extra-anatomic revascularization for use in such a situation. An autogenous graft is placed just below the sartorius muscle in the thigh and penetrates the iliacus muscle near the lateral end of the inguinal ligament. Limb loss and recurrent infection are prevented postoperatively. This retro-sartorius bypass technique may be a useful alternative to obturator bypass grafting in selected patients.     

Influence of Patient Characteristics and Treatment Options on Outcome of Patients with Prosthetic Aortic Graft Infection

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of patient characteristics and treatment options on survival and limb loss after treatment of prosthetic aortic graft infection. Fifty-three patients treated for prosthetic aortic graft infection were reviewed. Twenty-three presented with groin infection, 12 with sepsis, 10 with aortoenteric fistula, 4 with limb ischemia, and 4 with pseudoaneurysm. Treatment included staged extraanatomic bypass (EAB) plus graft excision in 23 patients, simultaneous EAB and graft excision in 18, in situ graft replacement in 5, and local therapy only in 7. Axillofemoral bypass was done for revascularization in 53 limbs and axillopopliteal bypass in 16 limbs. The results of this study showed that morbidity and mortality of prosthetic aortic graft infection is influenced by the presentation and type of treatment of the infected graft. Staged axillofemoral bypass (when possible) plus graft excision appears to be associated with acceptable outcome (survival with limb salvage in 74%).     

Obturator bypass: a classic approach for the treatment of contemporary groin infection

As the number of cardiac and interventional radiologic procedures has risen, the frequency with which surgeons are called to treat groin complications has increased. Infectious groin problems that often involve foreign prosthetic material or remnants of percutaneous femoral closure devices are particularly challenging and require control of bleeding, removal of foreign material, wide debridement, and sometimes arterial resection. Management of the consequential limb ischemia in such cases is controversial. The purpose of this study is to review the utility of extra-anatomic common femoral bypass through the obturator foramen (obturator bypass) as a method of treating limb ischemia after arterial groin infection. From July 1992 through June 2001 a total of 12 patients (six male) presented with severe vascular infections of the groin and underwent obturator bypass. Infections occurred as a consequence of an isolated vascular graft infection (nine) or after a percutaneous interventional femoral access procedure (three). Patients presented with systemic sepsis and a draining sinus (six), infected pseudoaneurysm (two), or hemorrhage (four). Treatment included debridement of the groin wound, sartorius muscle flap coverage of the femoral vessels, antibiotics and synthetic (eight polytetrafluoroethylene and four Dacron) obturator bypass via a lower abdominal extraperitoneal incision from an aortobifemoral bypass graft limb to the superficial femoral artery (six), native iliac to femoral artery (three), iliac to popliteal artery (two), and aortobifemoral bypass limb to the popliteal artery (one). Graft patency and limb salvage were assessed by Kaplan-Meier life table analysis. There were two (17%) deaths (multisystem organ failure at postoperative days 9 and 6) and four major complications (25%) requiring reoperation in the first 30 days. Ten patients (83%) survived, healed their groin wounds, and are infection free. With a mean follow-up of 37 months graft patency and limb salvage at 60 months were 80 and 60 per cent, respectively. There were no late graft infections. We conclude that the obturator bypass is an effective and durable means of revascularization in the presence of the septic groin. This procedure belongs in the armamentarium of all surgeons managing these complications.     

Obturator foramen bypass for infected blocked groin graft - A case report

Limb revascularization is a challenging situation when groin graft gets infected. A young male patient aged 28 years who had road traffic accident with lacerated left external iliac artery was treated with ilio-femoral graft. Three months after he presented with infected, occluded illio- femoral graft with critical limb ischemia. He was successfully managed with antibiotics, illio-popliteal graft passed through obturator foramen. Infected graft was excised.Obturator bypass should be considered in case of infected groin graft.     

Video-assisted crossover iliofemoral obturator bypass grafting: a minimally invasive approach to extra-anatomic lower limb revascularization

Graft infection continues to be one of the most feared complications in vascular surgery. It can lead to disruption of anastomoses with life-threatening bleeding, thrombosis of the bypass graft, and systemic septic manifestations. One method to ensure adequate limb perfusion after removal of an infected aortofemoral graft is extra-anatomical bypass grafting. We used a minimally invasive, video-assisted approach to implant a crossover iliofemoral obturator bypass graft in a patient with infection of the left limb of an aortofemoral bifurcated graft. This appears to be the first case report describing the use of this technique.     

Total excision and extra-anatomic bypass for aortic graft infection

Reports of high mortality and amputation rates following total excision and extra-anatomic bypass for aortic graft infection have prompted the use of alternate approaches including local antibiotics, partial resection, in situ revascularization, and graft excision without revascularization. Experience with aortic graft infection was reviewed to establish current morbidity and mortality rates and evaluate our bias in favor of total excision and extra-anatomic bypass. Aortic graft infection was identified in 32 patients, 8 with aortoenteric fistulas. The mean interval between graft placement and infection was 34 months. History of groin exposure (75%) or multiple prior vascular surgery (50%) was common. Clinical signs included fever and/or leukocytosis (23 patients), false aneurysm (9 patients), graft thrombosis (6 patients), groin infection (11 patients), and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (6 patients). Microbiologic data, available in 26 patients, demonstrated gram-positive organisms in 15 patients and gram-negative in 9. Multiple organisms were seen in 11 patients. Patients were treated by partial removal with (8 patients) or without (4 patients) revascularization or total removal with (18 patients) or without (2 patients) revascularization. Revascularization was by an extra-anatomic route, either simultaneous or staged. Overall morbidity/mortality was less in the revascularized groups (p = 0.01), while late complications were seen only after partial removal (p less than 0.01). The best results were found after total excision with revascularization. No patient in this group experienced late infection or amputation during a mean follow-up of 34 months (range: 1 to 168 months). Complications after total excision and extra-anatomic bypass for aortic graft infection are lower than generally appreciated. This approach should remain the standard to which other approaches are compared.     

Aortobifemoral Bypass Grafting with Reversed L-Shaped Technique for Endograft Infection

Endograft infection after abdominal endovascular aortic repair is a rare but catastrophic complication associated with high perioperative mortality and postoperative recurrent infection. The optimal surgical treatment is still controversial, particularly regarding in situ or extra-anatomical revascularization. Herein, we describe a successful surgically treated case of a patient with an endograft infection complicated with abscess formation in the retroperitoneal space around the right common iliac artery. We performed an aortobifemoral bypass grafting using the reversed L-shaped technique by rerouting the right leg of the new prosthesis to avoid the infected area. The patient is doing well 1 year after surgery without recurrent infection. This technique was considered to be advantageous because revascularization could be performed remotely from the infected area.     

Experience with New Techniques for Extraanatomic Arterial Reconstruction of the Lower Limb

The aim of this report is to present our experience with new techniques for extraanatomic lower limb arterial reconstruction. Two techniques are described here of construction of an extraanatomical bypass for lower limb revascularization either through the wing of the iliac bone or underneath the iliopsoas fascia through the muscular lacuna close to the anterior superior spine of the iliac crest. Both techniques are recommended for the treatment of a severely injured groin, such as in patients with pelvic malignancy and/or an acute groin bleeding due to postirradiation femoral artery erosion or an infected femoropopliteal bypass graft with severe upper medial thigh sepsis. These techniques were used in nine patients (five with malignancy and four with an infected femoropopliteal bypass graft). Our results showed that the transosseous route through the wing of the iliac bone or underneath the iliopsoas fascia through the muscular lacuna may be considered effective alternate routes for lower limb arterial extraanatomic reconstruction when the common femoral cannot be used for arterial inflow.     

Intra-abdominal aortic graft infection: complete or partial graft preservation in patients at very high risk

BACKGROUND: Total graft excision with in situ or extra-anatomic revascularization is considered mandatory to treat infection involving the body of aortic grafts. We present a series of nine patients with this complication and such severe comorbid medical illnesses or markedly hostile abdomens that traditional treatments were precluded. In these patients selective complete or partial graft preservation was used. METHODS: Over the past 20 years we have treated nine infected infrarenal aortic prosthetic grafts with complete or partial graft preservation, because excision of the graft body was not feasible. In all nine patients infection of the main body of the aortic graft was documented at computed tomography or surgery. Essential adjuncts included percutaneous or operative drain placement into retroperitoneal abscess cavities and along the graft, with instillation of antibiotics three times daily, repeated debridement of infected groin wounds, and intravenous antibiotic therapy for at least 6 weeks. RESULTS: One patient with purulent groin drainage treated with complete graft preservation died of sepsis. One patient with groin infection treated with complete graft preservation initially did well, but ultimately required total graft excision 5 months later, after clinical improvement. In four patients complete graft preservation was successful; two patients required excision of an occluded infected limb of the graft; and one patient underwent subtotal graft excision, leaving a graft remnant on the aorta, and axillopopliteal bypass. In summary, seven of nine patients survived hospitalization after complete or partial graft preservation; amputation was avoided in all but one patient; and no recurrent infection developed over mean follow-up of 7.6 years (range, 2-15 years). CONCLUSIONS: Although contrary to conventional concepts, partial or complete graft preservation combined with aggressive drainage and groin wound debridement is an acceptable option for treatment of infection involving an entire aortic graft in selected patients with prohibitive risks for total graft excision. This treatment may be compatible with long-term survival and protracted absence of signs or symptoms of infection.     

Arterial homografts - a possible solution to an infective dilemma

Seven patients with infected arterial conduits (six with prosthetic bypass grafts and one autogenous vein anastomosis) with ten limbs at risk (three patients with bilateral groin infection) are reported. The most common site for infection was the groin and the most frequent organism cultured was Staphylococcus aureus. These patients were selected for arterial homograft implantation through infected fields as they were unsuitable for extra-anatomical prosthetic bypass or had inadequate autogenous tissue available for use as a bypass conduit, i.e. the alternative to homograft insertion was arterial ligation and potential limb sacrifice. The arterial homografts were obtained from brain-dead organ donors (human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B- and hepatitis C-negative) and stored at −80°C until ready for use. All seven patients had initial success with their homograft procedures in terms of graft patency, limb salvage and control of infection, although two required early reoperation for haemorrhage. During the follow-up period (mean 24.5, range 6–52 months) three homografts have occluded at 6, 13 and 29 months resulting in limb loss. Two patients have died at 48 and 52 months from causes unrelated to their homograft procedures with functioning homografts and limb salvage. Two further patients remain alive with patent homografts at 7 and 20 months. The authors' experience suggests that arterial homografts have a role in overcoming arterial bypass infection, achieving wound healing and maintaining limb viability rather than resorting to arterial ligation and accepting major limb amputation. Copyright © 1996 The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery.     

Transthoracic aorto-axillary extra-anatomical bypass for difficult subclavian artery revascularization: a multicenter patency study

In situ revascularization of the subclavian artery can be challenging in the context of emergency situations, a large aortic aneurysm with a posteriorly displaced left subclavian artery, a complex redo procedure or in the presence of an aberrant subclavian artery. A transthoracic aorto-axillary extra-anatomical bypass is a low risk alternative to in situ revascularization or carotid to subclavian bypass. We herein describe the surgical steps during a single-stage surgery complex aortic arch surgery. We report a 95.3% graft patency for 77 consecutive transthoracic aorto-axillary extra-anatomical bypass performed to 66 patients at the mean follow-up of 2.9 ± 2.4 years. We encountered 3 early (before 180 days postop) graft failures and no late graft failure. Graft failure had no clinical significance.     

OBTURATOR FORAMEN BYPASS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFECTED PROSTHETIC VASCULAR GRAFTS

The obturator foramen bypass graft remains an excellent option for revascularking the lower extremity when dealing with an infected prosthetic vascular graft in the groin. In this series, six obturator foramen bypass grafts were performed in five patients for infectious groin complications following vascular surgery. Conservative measures such as local antibiotic irrigation and abscess drainage designed to preserve the graft in situ had failed to eradicate the infection in all instances and was complicated by suture-line haemorrhage in three instances. An aggressive approach should be adopted, aimed at excision of the infected graft. The obturator foramen bypass graft remains a durable graft for limb salvage. Five out of six obturator foramen bypass grafts were patent after 11–26 months follow up.     

A case against immediate revascularisation after uni- or bilateral removal of infected aortobifemoral (end-to-side) prosthetic grafts. Report based on three cases

More than 75% of the infections of Dacron aortobifemoral grafts occur in the groin. Early removal of the infected limb will enable the vascular surgeon to leave the abdominal part and opposite limb of the graft in place. In aortoiliac occlusive disease and with end-to-side proximal and distal anastomoses, simple removal of the infected graft will not threaten the viability of the limb. Complicated and often incomplete extra-anatomical revascularisation is therefore not necessary and consequently operative time and risk are reduced. Close pre- and postoperative monitoring of the peripheral circulation and painstaking decubitus prophylaxis are mandatory. After 3 to 6 months "in situ" bypass can be performed to correct claudication. Three patients that have been successfully treated according to this philosophy are presented.     

The influence of groin sepsis on extraanatomic bypass patency in patients with prosthetic graft infection

Twenty-seven vascular prosthetic graft infections in 25 patients were managed from 1981 through 1990 using the principles of extraanatomic bypass through uncontaminated fields and removal of the infected prosthesis. This experience included 18 aortic, three femoral-femoral, three femoral-popliteal, two axillofemoral grafts, and one popliteal endarterectomy patch. The predominant organism wasStaphylococcus epidermidis (26%). Mean follow-up was 36 months. There was only one early and one late death, with two late amputations. Extraanatomic bypass grafts were placed in 21 of 25 patients including all 18 infected aortic grafts. Of these 21 patients, 11 (52%) experienced at least one extraanatomic bypass failure within 15 months, resulting directly in two major lower extremity amputations and two graft reinfections. Axillounifemoral bypass had a higher incidence of failure than axillobifemoral bypass (54% versus 29%). More importantly, however, extraanatomic graft failure was also associated with the presence of groin sepsis. The revision rate was 63% when the graft required circuitous tunneling to avoid groin sepsis, in contrast to a revision rate of only 17% when the graft could be anastomosed directly to the common femoral artery. Of extraanatomic bypass grafts that failed once, 63% had multiple failures. Graft removal and extraanatomic revascularization produced excellent overall results when not involving the groin. Late complications occurred more frequently when groin sepsis was present. These results suggest that, to reduce the incidence of late graft failure and amputation, more aggressive early direct reconstruction should be performed in lieu of atypical graft tunneling, especially if the extraanatomic graft has failed once and the causative organism isStaphylococcus epidermidis.Presented at the 16th Annual Meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, June 2, 1991, Boston, Massachusetts.     

Graft excision and extra-anatomic revascularization: the treatment of choice for the septic aortic prosthesis

Graft excision and extra-anatomic revascularization is the treatment of choice for the septic aortic prosthesis. From 1979 to 1988, 20 patients underwent resection of aortic grafts and extra-anatomic bypass for the treatment of graft infections (No. 11) and aorto-enteric fistulas (No.9). The mean time interval from primary aortic surgery to the reoperative procedure was 65 months (range 1-192 months). Three patients died (one less than 30 days) after the secondary procedure for a mortality rate of 15%. One patient developed infection of the extra-anatomic bypass graft which resulted in an above-knee amputation. This was the only major limb loss in this series. A second patient developed contralateral buttock necrosis when he had unilateral axillary-femoral bypass without femoral-femoral bypass because of a previous above-knee amputation on the affected side. Major complications occurred in 7 patients (35%). Mean duration of follow-up after the reoperative aortic procedure was 44 months (range 6-120 months). One patient suffered aortic stump blowout 7 months after repair of an aortic duodenal fistula. Aortic graft excision and extra-anatomic revascularization of the lower extremities can be performed with low mortality and risk of limb loss and should remain the treatment of choice for aorto-enteric fistulas and infected aortic prostheses. Bilateral groin revascularization is important even in patients who have had a previous lower extremity amputation to provide pelvic blood flow.     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in vascular surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is emerging as a major problem in vascular surgical practice. The aim of this study was to review the management of patients with MRSA infection complicating vascular surgical operations. METHODS: Data were obtained from the vascular audit, case notes, intensive therapy unit (ITU) notes, high dependency unit (HDU) notes and microbiological records of patients who underwent either arterial reconstruction (n = 464) or limb amputation (n = 110) between April 1994 and October 1998. RESULTS: Forty-nine vascular surgical patients developed clinical MRSA infection (9%). Clinical MRSA infection in patients who had undergone aorto-iliac reconstruction (n = 18) was associated with a 56% mortality (n = 10) and the most common infections were bacteraemia (55%) and pneumonia (50%). MRSA infection occurred in 17 patients who had undergone infra-inguinal bypass and was associated with a 29% mortality (n = 5). The most common site of MRSA infection was the groin wound (76%) leading to anastomotic dehiscence and death in one patient (11%) and necessitating wound debridement in 4 patients (22%). MRSA infection of the groin wound in the presence of a prosthetic graft (n = 3) led to anastomotic dehiscence in 2 patients, and graft excision in 2 patients. Similar complications were not observed in the presence of an underlying autogeneous long saphenous vein graft (n = 16). MRSA infection following major lower limb amputation (n = 14) was associated with death in 5 patients (36%). Wound infection in 10 amputees (71%) led to revision of the amputation to a higher level in 2 (14%) and wound debridement in 2 (14%). CONCLUSIONS: MRSA infection has a high mortality in vascular surgical patients in general, and following aorto-iliac reconstruction in particular. Autogeneous vein may confer some protection against local complications following groin wound infection. Strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of infection, including strict adherence to infection control procedures, may reduce the severity of this problem.     

Conservative management of a methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected aortobifemoral graft: Report of a case

A 63-year-old man was referred to our department for treatment of intermittent claudication in the right lower limb. The preoperative angiogram showed severe stenosis extending from the terminal aorta to the bilateral common femoral arteries, with occlusion of the right superficial femoral artery and the left popliteal artery. He underwent aortobifemoral bypass with thromboendarterectomy of the left common femoral artery, and right graft-popliteal artery bypass. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course; however, 14 days after the operation, a pulsatile mass suddenly appeared in the left groin. Emergency surgery revealed disruption of the left distal anastomosis of the aortobifemoral bypass and therefore, revision, in the form of graft-profunda femoris artery interposition with graft-superficial femoral artery bypass, was performed. Microscopic examination showed colonies of bacteria in the host artery adventitia adjacent to the anastomosis. Culture of the discharge from the right groin operative scar revealed methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The discharge resolved following the intravenous administration of vancomycin and the local application of vancomycin ointment. There were no operative complications other than the MRSA infection, and the patient was discharged 20 days after revision surgery. In the 14 months since the revision, all grafts have remained patent and there have been no further symptoms of graft infection.     

The impact of MRSA on vascular surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of MRSA infection in patients treated in a major vascular unit and examine its consequences. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective case-note review was performed. RESULTS: During the period 1993 to 2000, a total of 172 patients (4.4% of total) were positive for MRSA. Of these 97 were colonised and 75 were infected by MRSA. The proportion of wound or graft infections caused by MRSA has increased (4% in 1994 to 63% in 2000). Three patients developed native artery infection (one following aortic stent insertion and 2 following embolectomy). All patients with aortic graft infection died. All patients with infected prosthetic infrainguinal bypass ended up with an amputation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MRSA infection is increasing. Infection of aortic grafts appears to be uniformly fatal and lower limb graft infection is associated with high limb loss.