Aortic Graft Infection from Appendicitis. A Case Report

Fifteen years after aortobifemoral bypass and five years after left femoropopliteal bypass, a 73-year old man presented with a vague abdominal pain syndrome. After an extensive work-up, aortobifemoral graft infection was suspected ; an appendiceal abscess infiltrating the prosthesis was discovered during exploratory laparotomy. Appendectomy was performed followed by removal of the vascular graft, the latter being replaced by a bilateral axillofemoral prosthesis. Aortic graft infection from appendicitis is an extremely rare condition ; a review of similar cases is presented.