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Aortic Disease

What Is an Aortic Graft Infection?

The largest artery in the human body, the aorta is the main blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aortic graft is a surgery done to repair aneurysms or blockages in the aorta. The procedure bridge two sections of the aorta together with a graft (a tube usually made of synthetic material) in order to replace a damaged portion of the artery to blood leakage and restore function to the injured area.

Sometimes the synthetic material of the graft can become infected, typically by staphylococcus bacteria. An infection can develop due to the presence of bacteria immediately following the aortic graft procedure or as a result of bacteria originating in another part of the body that travels to aorta via the bloodstream sometime after the graft surgery. Aortic graft infections can be fatal if left untreated.

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Aortic Graft Infection Symptoms

Symptoms of an aortic graft infection vary depending on how recently the aortic graft procedure was done. When an infection occurs within four months, symptoms often include:

  • Increased white blood cell count
  • Fever
  • Infection at the entry site (usually the groin)
  • Graft dysfunction

If the infection develops after four months following the procedure, symptoms are typically less noticeable and may include:

  • A false aneurysm (a collection of blood outside the blood vessels)
  • Osteomyelitis (a bone infection)
  • Hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney)

How Is an Aortic Graft Infection Diagnosed?

Tests used to diagnose infection of aortic grafts include:

  • Computed tomography scan (CT)
  • Chest X-ray
  • White blood cell scans
  • Advanced imaging techniques, including fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

How Are Aortic Graft Infections Treated?

Aortic graft infections are usually treated in two ways:

  • Medical Management: Medical management of an aortic graft infection typically involves a long-term course of antibiotics. Antibiotics may have to be taken for several months or lifelong in some cases.
  • Surgery: Surgical treatment of aortic graft infections generally consists of removal and replacement of the infected graft or surgical bypass of the infected graft.

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