Thoracic aorta transobturator bipopliteal bypass as eventual durable reconstruction after removal of an infected aortofemoral graft.

Abstract

A 36-year-old man was referred with aortofemoral graft infection and perigraft duodenal erosion. The aortofemoral graft was removed, and bilateral axillo-superficial femoral grafts were constructed. Recurrent failures of these grafts prompted us to convert to a more-durable reconstruction. A straight graft was anastomosed to the lower thoracic aorta, routed retroperitoneally, and attached to an inverted U-shaped bilateral transobturator bypass graft, which was anastomosed to both above-knee popliteal arteries. After 3 years, the patient has remained well and the grafts are patent. This operation represents a durable in-line reconstruction that avoids all previously infected areas after removal of an infected aortofemoral graft.