PubMed · 3722209
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D F Williams. Electrically-spun polyurethane vascular prostheses.. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.820200602
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A retrospective study of 212 vascular graft failures, using different criteria of infection evidenced a relatively high incidence of infectious complications. Vascular graft infection was assessed on one of the following criteria: clinical infection, positive bacteriological and/or virological examination of the graft, presence of characterized micro-organisms and of microstructures 0.1 to 0.5 micron in size at the blood/prosthesis surface at scanning electron microscopy, and presence of foci of persistent polymorphonuclear cells and lymphocytes at histological microscopy. In the absence of overlapping between these criteria, the present results raise the question of the adequacy of conventional bacteriological sampling on explanted artificial surfaces.
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The aetiology, diagnosis and management of prosthetic vascular graft infection are reviewed. The importance of contamination at the time of surgery as the crucial aetiological factor is highlighted. Staphylococcus epidermidis is the causative organism in over 50 per cent of cases and the reasons for this are explored. Sound surgical technique, use of prophylactic antibiotics and the avoidance of a groin incision are emphasized as the most important factors in prevention of graft infection. Difficulties of diagnosis are highlighted and the diagnostic role of various imaging methods is assessed. Graft excision with extra-anatomic revascularization is presented as the conventional surgical solution, while the roles of less radical surgical solutions and non-operative management are discussed.