Ten Years Experience of Treating Aorto-Femoral Bypass Graft Infection with Venous Allografts

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to analyze our results of treating synthetic vascular graft infection in the aorto-femoral segment with venous allografts. Patients and methods During 1997–2006 we treated 11 male patients with venous allografts for aorto-femoral segment prosthetic graft infection. Patients were followed postoperatively with patency assessment based on Doppler ultrasonography. Results The mean interval between the implantation of the synthetic vascular graft and the appearance of infection was 43 ± 29 months (range 5 months–10 years). Overall primary patency of the venous allograft was 100%, 88% and 66% at 1, 6 and 36 months, respectively. Secondary patency rates of the venous allograft were 94% and 73% after 5 and 8 years, respectively. Overall survival rate was 100%, 64%, 46% and 27% after one month, 3, 5 and 8 years, respectively. Limb salvage rate was 100%, 94% and 73% after 1 month, 5 and 8 years, respectively. Conclusions The use of in situ venous allograft for the treatment of synthetic graft infection in the aorto-femoral segment has led to favourable short- and long-term results.