[Diagnostic and clinical aspects of septic complications in vascular surgery (author's transl)].

The clinical symptoms of wound infection depend on the location and the tissue layer of the infectious process. The classic signs of inflammation are usually present if the subcutaneous tissue is involved. The diagnosis is based mainly on clinical signs. Deep wound infections, e.g. in the retroperitoneal space can progress unnoticed for days or even weeks, to be suddenly unmasked by a vascular complication (bleeding; aorto-enteric fistula). An early daignosis is essential for an aggressive surgical approach, i.e. early elimination of the septic focus in combination with an aseptic bypass procedure.