Histopathological characteristics of explanted human prosthetic arterial grafts: implications for the prevention and management of graft infection.

Objective: to study the histopathological characteristics of prosthetic vascular graft infection.

Design: prospective clinical study over 2 years.

Setting: University Hospital.

Incorporation versus infection of retroperitoneal aortic grafts: MR imaging features.

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of normal aortic graft healing were compared with those of perigraft infection in 57 patients after aortic graft implantation. Thirty-three patients without postoperative complications underwent MR imaging in a 0.35-T unit 1 week after graft implantation, and 13 of those patients were reexamined 2-3 months after graft implantation.

Diagnosis of prosthetic aortic graft infection by magnetic resonance imaging.

The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of prosthetic aortic graft infection was evaluated in 18 patients with history and findings suggestive of this complication. The prospective interpretation of MRI was compared with surgical findings. Sixteen patients had a graft infection verified at operation.