Wound infection after arterial surgical procedures.

During the period October 1983 to March 1987, 603 patients who underwent arterial surgical procedures were studied to determine the incidence and treatment of wound infections. Bypass procedures were performed in 395 patients (65.5%), in which autogenous vein was used for 158 grafts (26%), synthetic Dacron for 216 grafts (36%), and umbilical vein for 21 grafts (3.5%). Thrombo-endarterectomies, embolectomies and patch-grafts were performed in 208 patients (34.5%). An Infection Control Nurse examined and registered the wounds. The definition of wound infection used in our study is equivalent to Szilagyi grade II infection. Vascular surgery is classified as clean surgery, the clean wound infection rate being a useful measurement to evaluate preventative measures and surgical technique. Thirty-one patients (5.1%) developed a wound infection as a postoperative complication. The overall incidence of wound complications including haematoma and seroma following arterial reconstruction was 13%. The site of wound infection was predominantly the groin. The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus which was found in 17 patients (2.8%). All infections resolved without further surgical intervention. The influence of possible aetiological factors is considered and the importance of prophylactic antibiotics and good surgical technique is stressed.