Imaging Modalities for the Diagnosis of Vascular Graft Infections: A Consensus Paper amongst Different Specialists

Vascular graft infection (VGI) is a rare but severe complication of vascular surgery that is associated with a bad prognosis and high mortality rate. An accurate and prompt identification of the infection and its extent is crucial for the correct management of the patient. However, standardized diagnostic algorithms and a univocal consensus on the best strategy to reach a diagnosis still do not exist. This review aims to summarize different radiological and Nuclear Medicine (NM) modalities commonly adopted for the imaging of VGI. Moreover, we attempt to provide evidence-based answers to several practical questions raised by clinicians and surgeons when they approach imaging in order to plan the most appropriate radiological or NM examination for their patients.

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Vascular graft infection in the aortoiliac territory – our view in the light of European Society for Vascular Surgery Guidelines − the retrospective observation study

10.33699/pis.2021.100.7.330-338 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 100 (7) ◽

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Vascular Surgery ◽

High Mortality ◽

European Society ◽

Vascular Graft ◽

Graft Infection ◽

Primary Reconstruction ◽

Treatment Needs ◽

Vascular Graft Infection ◽

Mortality And Morbidity

Introduction: Vascular graft infection in the aortoiliac territory (abdominal VGI) is undoubtedly one of the most serious complications in vascular surgery. The treatment is burdened with high mortality and morbidity rates. In 2020, the Guidelines on the Management of Vascular Graft and Endograft Infections were published by the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS). In the light of these guidelines, we decided to review retrospectively all patients who presented to our institution with abdominal VGI. Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients presented with abdominal VGI treated in our institution between 2011−2019 (9 years). The primary goal was to elucidate the rate of vascular graft infection in aortoiliac reconstructions performed between 2011−2019 and also the mortality rate in the patient cohort operated for this complication. The secondary goals were to evaluate the success rate and the complication rate in different types of reconstructions. Results: In the defined period between 2011−2019 we performed 363 open aortoiliac reconstructions. During the same period we treated altogether 15 patients with abdominal VGI, whose primary reconstruction was mostly performed before 2011 (11 patients). In our cohort of patients who underwent reconstruction between 2011−2019 we observed a graft infection only in 4 cases (1.1%). In the group of 15 patients with abdominal VGI, the male gender prevailed (14 patients). The mean age at the time of primary reconstruction was 61 years. Most of our reconstructions were performed for occlusive disease (14 cases). All infected grafts were aortobifemoral (1 unilateral aortofemoral). They were all late infections with an average presentation time of 61 months since the primary reconstruction (15−180 months). Early mortality rate was as high as 27% (4 patients) and overall mortality was 40%. The secondary reinfection rate after primary treatment was 33%. Conclusion: Treatment of abdominal VGI is still burdened with high mortality and morbidity rates. The current ESVS guidelines provide valuable guidance for the diagnosis and management of VGI. It nevertheless remains obvious that the treatment needs to be tailored individually in a multidisciplinary team environment.

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Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Vascular Graft Infection: The Added Role of Hybrid Imaging

Diagnostic Imaging of Infections and Inflammatory Diseases ◽

10.1002/9781118484388.ch14 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 241-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ora Israel

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Medicine ◽

Vascular Graft ◽

Hybrid Imaging ◽

Graft Infection ◽

Nuclear Medicine Imaging ◽

Vascular Graft Infection

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A Newly Developed Technology of Simultaneous Nuclear Medicine and CT Imaging for Accurate Diagnosis of Vascular Graft Infection

EJVES Extra ◽

10.1053/ejvx.2002.0100 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 105-108

Author(s):

S.S Nitecki ◽

N Efremov ◽

A Ofer ◽

A Engel ◽

A Hoffman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Medicine ◽

Vascular Graft ◽

Graft Infection ◽

Ct Imaging ◽

Accurate Diagnosis ◽

Vascular Graft Infection

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In-vivo evaluation of the effect of cyanoacrylate on prosthetic vascular graft infection – does cyanoacrylate increase the severity of infection?

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000867 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 281-284

Author(s):

Atıf Yolgosteren ◽

Gencehan Kumtepe ◽

Melda Payaslioglu ◽

Cuneyt Ozakin

Keyword(s):

Vascular Graft ◽

Graft Infection ◽

Vascular Graft Infection ◽

Group 4 ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infection ◽

Group 1

Summary. Background: Prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is a complication with high mortality. Cyanoacrylate (CA) is an adhesive which has been used in a number of surgical procedures. In this in-vivo study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between PVGI and CA. Materials and methods: Thirty-two rats were equally divided into four groups. Pouch was formed on back of rats until deep fascia. In group 1, vascular graft with polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) was placed into pouch. In group 2, MRSA strain with a density of 1 ml 0.5 MacFarland was injected into pouch. In group 3, 1 cm 2 vascular graft with PET piece was placed into pouch and MRSA strain with a density of 1 ml 0.5 MacFarland was injected. In group 4, 1 cm 2 vascular graft with PET piece impregnated with N-butyl cyanoacrylate-based adhesive was placed and MRSA strain with a density of 1 ml 0.5 MacFarland was injected. All rats were scarified in 96th hour, culture samples were taken where intervention was performed and were evaluated microbiologically. Bacteria reproducing in each group were numerically evaluated based on colony-forming unit (CFU/ml) and compared by taking their average. Results: MRSA reproduction of 0 CFU/ml in group 1, of 1410 CFU/ml in group 2, of 180 200 CFU/ml in group 3 and of 625 300 CFU/ml in group 4 was present. A statistically significant difference was present between group 1 and group 4 (p < 0.01), between group 2 and group 4 (p < 0.01), between group 3 and group 4 (p < 0.05). In terms of reproduction, no statistically significant difference was found in group 1, group 2, group 3 in themselves. Conclusions: We observed that the rate of infection increased in the cyanoacyrylate group where cyanoacrylate was used. We think that surgeon should be more careful in using CA in vascular surgery.

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