Infected arterial grafts.

The case notes of 664 patients who underwent surgery and arterial grafting between the years of 1955 and 1973 at the University of Rochester Medical Center have been analyzed. There were 15 cases of infected grafts-a rate of 2.3%. The outcome of the infection was determined in 12 of these cases. Four patients had no surgical treatment and all 4 died. Three patients had simple ligations with excision and one died, one had an above knee amputation and one continues to have a draining sinus. Five patients had axillofemoral bypasses. Two died and three patients are alive and well. The role of prophylactic antibiotics is briefly discussed and the influence of possible etiological factors is also considered.