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Infected Aortic Grafts
Aortic graft infections are infections of synthetic material that were placed to repair aneurysms or blockages in the artery.
- condition
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Definition
Aortic graft infections are infections of synthetic material that were placed to repair aneurysms or blockages in the artery. If untreated, these infections can be life-threatening.
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Causes
The infections are caused by bacteria, most frequently the staphylococcus groups of bacteria.
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Risk
The main risk factor is the presence of a synthetic graft. These infections occur very rarely.
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Symptoms
- Enlargement of groin wound
- Drainage from groin wound
- Fever
- High white-blood cell count
- Bloodstream infection
- Infected wound
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding at the site of the graft repair
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- diagnosis
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Diagnosis
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan: X-ray slices of the aortic artery are taken to check for changes at the site of the graft that suggest infection.
- Chest X-ray: Electromagnetic energy produces pictures of structures in the chest, including the arteries, to search for signs of infection.
- White Blood Cell scans: These scans can help localize sites of infection.
- treatment
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Treatment
- Graft replacement: The most common treatment is replacing the infected graft with a new graft.
- Medication: Along with a graft replacement, patients may also receive medication, such as antibiotics, to treat the infected graft.
