A Case of Preservation of an Infected Prosthetic Graft with Vacuum-assisted Closure Therapy

Abstract

We report a case of the treatment of a postoperative prosthetic graft infection, which is one of the most challenging complications. The patient was a 70-year-old diabetic woman who underwent a right femoropopliteal bypass and received a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft. However, after the procedure she developed a graft infection and was re-admitted. We opened the wound for drainage and rinsing as initial treatment. Vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy was initiated 17 days after re-admittance. After 18 days we closed the wound. The patient was discharged 78 days after re-hospitalization with a preserved and patent graft. V.A.C. therapy and wound cleaning were effective for granulation tissue formation and infection control, even of the exposed graft. We found that V.A.C. therapy had therapeutic benefits for an infected prosthetic.