Eight-year experience with cryopreserved arterial homografts for the in situ reconstruction of abdominal aortic infections.

Objective: This study investigated short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with abdominal aortic infection (mycotic aneurysm, prosthetic graft infection, aortoenteric fistula) managed by total excision of the aneurysm or the infected vascular graft and in situ aortic reconstruction with a cryopreserved arterial homograft (CAH).

Methods: From January 2000 to December 2008, 110 consecutive patients underwent CAH implantation for treatment of vascular infections. In 57 (52%), in situ revascularization of the abdominal aorta with Y-prosthesis constructed from CAHs was performed. Early outcome included 30-day mortality and the levels of daily blood markers (leucocytes, C-reactive protein, and platelets) during the postsurgical 10-day period. We reported long-term survival and freedom from reoperation rates, including all indications for reoperation.

Results: Indications for operation were infected vascular graft in 31 patients (55%), aortodigestive fistulae in 11 (19%), nonruptured mycotic aneurysms in 4 (7%), and ruptured mycotic aneurysms of abdominal aorta in 11 (19%). In 39 of 57 patients (68%), the intraoperative specimens were positive for at least one microorganism, and Staphylococcus aureus was present in 14 (25%). In 32 patients (82%) with intraoperative specimens positive for microorganisms, there was no evidence of the intraoperatively detected microorganisms in the postoperative specimens (wound, blood culture, and drainage fluid). The peak value of leucocytes (13.7 +/- 4.4 x 10(3)/L) and C-reactive protein (200 +/- 75 mg/L) occurred on postoperative day 3. Platelets reached the lowest value on postoperative day 2 (178 +/- 67 x 10(9)/L). Median peak body temperature was 37.7 degrees +/- 0.6 degrees C. Thirty-day mortality was 9% (5 of 57 patients). Median follow-up was 36 months (range, 4-118 months); 3-year survival was 81%, and freedom from reoperation was 89%. Five patients (9%) required reoperation, in one patient each for postoperative bleeding, acute cholecystitis, homograft occlusion, homograft-duodenum fistula, and aneurysmal degeneration. No recurrence of infection was reported.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate an encouraging outcome after cryopreserved allograft implantation for the treatment of vascular infections in the abdominal aorta. The data represent a basis for future comparisons with other treatment modalities for vascular infections, including silver-coated prostheses and autogenous femoral veins.