Neoaortoiliac System Procedure to Treat Infected Aortic Grafts.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this case series is to report the results of our center in the surgical treatment of infected abdominal aortic grafts using the neoaortoiliac system (NAIS) procedure.

METHODS: Four male and 2 female patients underwent an NAIS repair after endovascular (n = 3), open (n = 2), or combined surgery (n = 1) in our center. Mean age was 73 ± 5.2 years. Graft infection was diagnosed by computed tomography angiography (CTA), and only in 2 cases further imaging was necessary. The diagnosis was set at average 6.2 years after the initial procedure.

RESULTS: Four patients underwent a standard pantaloon NAIS procedure, 1 patient with a small aortic diameter received 1 femoral vein as aortoaortic interposition graft, and 1 patient received a unilateral aortoiliac bypass; all patients received autologous femoral veins grafts. Thirty-day mortality was zero, with in-hospital mortality of 1 patient (16.7%). Mean hospital stay was 27 ± 4.9 days, with mean intensive care unit stay of 2.2 days (range: 1-3). During follow-up (mean: 6.17 months, range: 1-24 months), 2 patients presented with thigh wound complications, one of which required surgical revision. One patient was readmitted due to upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding as a side effect of anticoagulation, without the presence of ulcer or other GI pathology.

CONCLUSIONS: In our early experience, NAIS showed to be a demanding procedure for both the patient and the surgical team. It avoids however the disadvantages of extra-anatomic bypass and other methods used to treat aortic graft infection. Larger study groups are necessary to support these findings.