Variant neo-aortoiliac system operation using a composite conduit of silver-coated dacron graft and autologous femoral veins: A report of two cases

Abstract

Aortic prosthesis infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. The introduction of the neo-aortoiliac system (NAIS) technique offers a new perspective, as a venous conduit is considered an optimal graft in aortic prosthesis infection because it is autogenous, durable, inexpensive and has low infection rates. Occasionally, the anatomical characteristics of available autologous venous conduits may limit the applicability of this technique. Herein, we present two cases in which a variant NAIS technique was used to confront an aortic graft infection. To expand the usefulness of the NAIS technique and avoid the use of prosthetic material in a potentially contaminated area as much as possible, we combined an autologous femoral vein with a short segment of a silver-coated Dacron graft. The combination of a silver-impregnated graft and the NAIS is a feasible bailout technique should the NAIS vein appears inadequate upon exploration.