Endograft Infections

Endograft infection is a rare multifactorial complication after endovascular exclusion of aortic aneurysms, which raise both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Several risk factors associated with the patients’ comorbidities, the index procedure and the secondary procedures have been suggested to predispose an endograft infection, whereas several microorganisms with different virulency have been incriminated. The presence of a graft-GI tract fistula, which can occur in up to one-third of the cases, increase dramatically the mortality and morbidity rates. Endograft explantation is considered the gold standard approach whereas reconstruction of the blood supply can be performed in various manners by using several materials each with its advantages and disadvantages. A nonoperative management or “palliative” therapy with lifelong antibiotic administration without/without percutaneous drainage could only be considered for patients with high surgical risk.