There are no simple solutions to aortic graft infection, but a thoughtful approach to the surgical treatment of this condition minimizes the risk of major morbidity and mortality. No single operation is appropriate for all patients, so a working knowledge…
The incidence of infection affecting a prosthetic aortic graft varies from less than 1% to about 4%, depending on whether the vascular prosthesis is entirely intrathoracic (1%–2%), is retroperitoneal (<1%), extends to the femoral level (2%–4%), or is an endovascular…
Femorofemoral bypass was first performed in the early 1950s as an alternative to the more direct aortofemoral bypass (AFB). Femorofemoral bypass, as with axillofemoral bypass, was initially employed primarily as a lower-risk alternative to AFB in high-risk patients with critical…
The typical patient with isolated iliac occlusive disease generally has intermittent claudication. Critical ischemia in the form of rest pain, ulceration, or gangrene is usually absent unless multilevel disease exists. There are several management options for symptomatic patients with unilateral…
Axillofemoral bypass (AxFB), a bypass graft from one axillary artery to one or both femoral arteries, was first performed in the early 1960s in patients at high cardiopulmonary risk for surgery as an alternative to the more direct reconstructive operation,…
The descending thoracic aorta–to–femoral artery bypass can be defined as a bypass from the aorta just proximal to the diaphragmatic hiatus with either a bifurcated or tube graft reaching the iliac or femoral arterial system. This operation was first performed…
Focal developmental narrowings of the distal thoracic and abdominal aorta are rare anomalies accounting for less than 2% of all aortic coarctations. Most physicians have limited experience with the management of these unusual lesions. Abdominal aortic coarctations are categorized by…
Endoleaks, endotension, and graft migration are the major problems of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) when treating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). There are patients with endotension and aneurysms that increase in diameter without any evidence of patent lumbar arteries or a…
Anastomotic aneurysms result from a disruption of the native artery–to–graft anastomosis. They are characterized by type (true or false), location (aortic, iliac, or femoral), and etiology (mycotic or nonmycotic). The majority are false aneurysms (pseudoaneurysms), with blood extravasation contained by…
Aortofemoral bypass (AFB) has been recognized as a durable and effective form of vascular reconstruction for aortoiliac occlusive disease. With the advent of balloon angioplasty and intraluminal stents in the last 20 years, there has been a decrease in the…