Replacement of infected vascular prosthesis by the femoral vein

: The article discusses restorative treatment of 12 patients with an infected prosthesis in the inguinal region after aortobifemoral, unilateral common iliofemoral, and submusculofemoral shunting. The infected segment of the prosthesis was removed 9 days to 5 weeks after the first operation by cutting it in tissues which were not involved in inflammation. The lacking segment of the shunt was replaced by the patient's femoral vein which was drawn through the infected wound. In 11 patients the wound in the inguinal region healed with maintained patency of the shunt. In 2 patients the extremity was amputated. Marked temporary venous insufficiency was encountered in one case.