Clinical Challenges in Vascular Surgery: Aortic Graft Infections

In this episode of Behind the Knife the vascular surgery subspecialty team discusses a case of an infected endovascular aortic graft. Although rare, aortic graft infections remain a devastating complication.  What options do you have to fix this problem? In this episode, we will cover the who is at risk of this, how they present, and what options you have to fix it.
Hosts: 
Dr. Bobby Beaulieu is an Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Michigan
Dr. Frank Davis is an Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Michigan
Dr. David Schechtman is a Vascular Surgery Fellow at the University of Michigan
Dr. Drew Braet is a PGY-3 Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident at the University of Michigan

Learning Objectives
·      Understand the incidence of and the relevant risk factors for aortic graft infections
·      Review the spectrum of presenting symptoms and relevant workup for aortic graft infections
·      Understand surgical treatment options including options for in-situ bypass and extra-anatomic bypass
·      Review the different conduits that can be used for in-situ and extra-anatomic reconstruction
·      Discuss relevant post-operative considerations for patients undergoing operative intervention for aortic graft infection

References

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·      Kieffer E, Sabatier J, Plissonnier D, Knosalla C. Prosthetic graft infection after descending thoracic/ thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysmectomy: management with in situ arterial allografts. J Vasc Surg. 2001 Apr;33(4):671-8. doi: 10.1067/mva.2001.112314. PMID: 11296316.
·      Gutowski P. Zakazenie aortalno-biodrowej protezy naczyniowej jako problem diagnostyczny i leczniczy [Aortoiliac graft infection as a diagnostic and treatment problem]. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 1998;Suppl 41:1-72. Polish. PMID: 9766086. 
·      Capoccia L, Mestres G, Riambau V. Current technology for the treatment of infection following abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) fixation by endovascular repair (EVAR). J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2014;55:381–389.
·      Setacci C, Chisci E, Setacci F, Ercolini L, de Donato G, Troisi N, Galzerano G, Michelagnoli S. How To Diagnose and Manage Infected Endografts after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair. Aorta (Stamford). 2014 Dec 1;2(6):255-64. doi: 10.12945/j.aorta.2014.14-036. PMID: 26798744; PMCID: PMC4682678.
·      Reinders Folmer E.I., Von Meijenfeldt G.C.I., Van der Laan M.J., Glaudemans A.W.J.M., Slart R.H.J.A., Saleem B.R., Zeebregts C.J. Diagnostic Imaging in Vascular Graft Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Eur. J. Vasc. Endovasc. Surg. 2018;56:719–729. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2018.07.010. 
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