Background: In situ reconstruction is one of the primary surgical options for primary aortic and graft and endograft infections. One institution's outcomes following aortic reconstruction with femoro-popliteal vein (i.e., the neo-aortoiliac system) and cryopreserved aortic allografts are described.
Methods: A retrospective review was performed of any patient who underwent aortic reconstruction with femoropopliteal vein or cryopreserved aortic allograft from 2013-2022 at a single tertiary-care institution.
Results: Twenty four patients underwent in situ reconstruction with the neo-aortoiliac system or with cadaveric allograft for primary or secondary aortic infection from 2013-2022. Short-term (30-day) mortality remains low (3/24 or 12.5%) despite the high incidence of major postoperative complications that necessitated reintervention in 11/24 or 45.8% of the cohort, most often for recurrent intracavitary infection. Gram-negative and drug-resistant pathogens were the most commonly implicated organisms in recurrent intra-abdominal infection. Management of early allograft degeneration is also described with extra-anatomic bypass grafting, conduit/graft embolization, which is then followed by allograft explantation and wide surgical debridement. Despite low short-term (30-day) mortality, all-cause 1-year mortality remains elevated at 38.1% (8/21) in those with an adequate follow-up interval.
Conclusions: In situ reconstruction for primary or secondary aortic infections results in excellent short-term patient outcomes but is characterized by a high incidence of reintervention and an elevated all-cause 1-year mortality.
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