Management of infected groin wounds after vascular surgery.

Abstract Background: Management of an infected groin wound after vascular surgery may be a challenge. We report a retrospective series of cases of the management of groin defects and an algorithm for their management based on our own experience and related literature. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review from June 2008 to February 2012 of patients with infected groin wounds after vascular surgical procedures. The review disclosed six patients with a history of femoral cannulation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), one patient with a femorofemoral bypass, one patient with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), and one patient with a thoracoabdominal aneurysm following stent implantation. Exposure of femoral vessels was noted in seven of these nine patients, and wound cultures of all nine patients yielded positive results. Results: The mean age of the nine patients (five males and four females) was 54.6 years (range 17–79 years). The mean follow-up was 13.6 months (range...