ABSTRACT
Five patients with vascular graft infections were surgically treated over a 16-year period. Primary diseases were arteriosclerosis obliterans in 3 cases and invasion of malignant diseases in 2 cases. The most common site of infection was the groin (3 of 5). <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was the most common pathogen. Administration of antibiotics, drainage and lavage with povidone iodine solution were performed in 4 patients (40-64 days). All patients underwent graft resection and reconstruction. Infected parts of the previous grafts were removed. Total removal of the previous graft was performed in 2 cases and partial removal was performed in 3 cases. To avoid re-infection, long extra-anatomical bypass was performed in 4 cases. The post operative courses of the five patients were uneventful.