Septic vascular interventions / prosthesis infections

Both modern endovascular (inside the blood vessels) and traditional open vascular surgery use alloplastic, i.e. foreign material (plastic). Although infections of vascular grafts are generally rare, they pose the greatest challenge to the vascular surgeon treating them, as the mortality rate and incidence of post-procedure side effects such as wound healing problems, lymphatic fistula and nerve damage are high.

Treatment

For this reason, we often work closely with other specialties such as visceral surgery, cardiac surgery or plastic surgery. Often, multiple interventions are required, with a long inpatient stay. The treatment concept is always discussed on a case-by-case and interdisciplinary basis.

Our department has the facilities and expertise for homograft implantation, a tissue donation with specially prepared vessels, similar to organ donation, but without immunosuppressive drugs.