Aortic Graft Infection from Appendicitis. A Case Report

Abstract

Fifteen years after aortobifemoral bypass and five years after left femoropopliteal bypass, a 73-year old man presented with a vague abdominal pain syndrome. After an extensive work-up, aortobifemoral graft infection was suspected ; an appendiceal abscess infiltrating the prosthesis was discovered during exploratory laparotomy. Appendectomy was performed followed by removal of the vascular graft, the latter being replaced by a bilateral axillofemoral prosthesis. Aortic graft infection from appendicitis is an extremely rare condition ; a review of similar cases is presented.

Key Words:

• Blood vessel prosthesis infection
• appendicitis
• graft infection
• extraanatomical bypass

Additional information

Notes on contributors

P. Lauwers

P. Lauwers Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium. Phone: ++32 3 821.37.85. Fax: ++32 3 821.43.96. E-mail: [email protected]