Optimization of rifampin coating on covered Dacron endovascular stent grafts for infected aortic aneurysms.

Objective: In the treatment of an infected aorta, open repair and replacement with a rifampin-impregnated Dacron vascular graft decrease the risk of prosthetic graft infections, with several protocols available in the literature. We hypothesize that the same holds true for endovascular aneurysm repair, and after studying and optimizing rifampin solution concentration and incubation period to maximize the coating process of rifampin on Dacron endovascular stent grafts (ESGs), we propose a rapid real-time perioperative protocol.

Methods: Several prepared rifampin solutions, including a negative control solution, were used to coat multiple triplicate sets of Dacron endovascular aortic stent grafts at different but set incubation periods.