Synthetic vascular graft infection. The continuing headache.

Twenty synthetic vascular graft infections are reviewed. Diagnosis of aortic shaft infections has been improved by combined CAT and Gallium scanning, with a 100 per cent sensitivity and specificity. An increasing incidence (70%) of gram-negative or resistant infections is noted, with a correspondingly high mortality. Delay in diagnosis resulted in an 100 per cent mortality versus 20 per cent when diagnosis was made rapidly. Mortality was usually from sepsis, but nearly half of the deaths occurred due to stroke or myocardial infarction.