Stephanie A Chapman1, Daniel Delgadillo1, Elizabeth MacGuidwin2, Joshua I Greenberg3, Andrew P Jameson4. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners, Grand Rapids, MI. 3. Division of Infectious Disease, Departments of Vascular Surgery and Internal Medicine, Mercy Health Saint Mary's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI. 4. Division of Infectious Disease, Departments of Vascular Surgery and Internal Medicine, Mercy Health Saint Mary's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI. Electronic address: Andrew.Jameson@mercyhealth.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prosthetic vascular graft procedures are a common treatment modality for peripheral vascular disease. A relatively common complication is graft infection, occurring at a rate of 0.5-5%. When they occur, graft infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Vascular graft infections also represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician METHODS: Here, we report a case where the rare finding of secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was an important indication of underlying aortic graft infection that was initially misdiagnosed. A review of the literature revealed 34 cases of vascular graft infection associated with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. RESULTS: The mean interval from surgery to time of infection was approximately 5 years. Mortality was 35%. When combined with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, vascular graft infection was complicated by an aortoenteric fistula in 53% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The complexity of this case highlights the challenges physicians face in order to diagnose and treat this condition.
BACKGROUND: Prosthetic vascular graft procedures are a common treatment modality for peripheral vascular disease. A relatively common complication is graft infection, occurring at a rate of 0.5-5%. When they occur, graft infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Vascular graft infections also represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician METHODS: Here, we report a case where the rare finding of secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was an important indication of underlying aortic graft infection that was initially misdiagnosed. A review of the literature revealed 34 cases of vascular graft infection associated with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. RESULTS: The mean interval from surgery to time of infection was approximately 5 years. Mortality was 35%. When combined with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, vascular graft infection was complicated by an aortoenteric fistula in 53% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The complexity of this case highlights the challenges physicians face in order to diagnose and treat this condition.