10 research outputs found
Contemporary Outcomes After Partial Resection of Infected Aortic Grafts
Introduction: Aortic graft infection remains a considerable clinical
challenge, and it is unclear which variables are associated with adverse
outcomes among patients undergoing partial resection.
Methods: A retrospective, multi-institutional study of patients who
underwent partial resection of infected aortic grafts from 2002 to 2014
was performed using a standard database. Baseline demographics,
comorbidities, operative, and postoperative variables were recorded. The
primary outcome was mortality. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier (KM)
survival analysis, and Cox regression analysis were performed.
Results: One hundred fourteen patients at 22 medical centers in 6
countries underwent partial resection of an infected aortic graft.
Seventy percent were men with median age 70 years. Ninety-seven percent
had a history of open aortic bypass graft: 88 (77%) patients had
infected aortobifemoral bypass, 18 (16%) had infected aortobiiliac
bypass, and 1 (0.8%) had an infected thoracic graft. Infection was
diagnosed at a median 4.3 years post-implant. All patients underwent
partial resection followed by either extra-anatomic (47%) or in situ
(53%) vascular reconstruction. Median follow-up period was 17 months
(IQR 1, 50 months). Thirty-day mortality was 17.5%. The KM-estimated
median survival from time of partial resection was 3.6 years. There was
no significant survival difference between those undergoing in situ
reconstruction or extra-anatomic bypass (P = 0.6). During follow up,
72% of repairs remained patent and 11% of patients underwent major
amputation. On univariate Cox regression analysis, Candida infection was
associated with increased risk of mortality (HR 2.4; P = 0.01) as well
as aortoenteric fistula (HR 1.9, P = 0.03). Resection of a single graft
limb only to resection of abdominal (graft main body) infection was
associated with decreased risk of mortality (HR 0.57, P = 0.04), as well
as those with American Society of Anesthesiologists classification less
than 3 (HR 0.35, P = 0.04). Multivariate analysis did not reveal any
factors significantly associated with mortality. Persistent early
infection was noted in 26% of patients within 30 days postoperatively,
and 39% of patients were found to have any post-repair infection during
the follow-up period. Two patients (1.8%) were found to have a late
reinfection without early persistent postoperative infection. Patients
with any post-repair infection were older (67 vs . 60 years, P = 0.01)
and less likely to have patent repairs during follow up (59% vs. 32%,
P = 0.01). Patients with aortoenteric fistula had a higher rate of any
post-repair infection (63% vs . 29%, P < 0.01)
Conclusion: This large multi-center study suggests that patients who
have undergone partial resection of infected aortic grafts may be at
high risk of death or post-repair infection, especially older patients
with abdominal infection not isolated to a single graft limb, or with
Candida infection or aortoenteric fistula. Late reinfection correlated
strongly with early persistent postoperative infection, raising concern
for occult retained infected graft material