simple method of bonding rifampin to dacron grafts and its value in preventing early vascular graft sepsis

ABSTRACT

The graft was impregnated by soaking it for 15 minutes in rifampin after preclotting and was used for bypass for symptomatic lower ischemia in 15 patients [part I]. In part II patients, grafting using knitted Dacron prosthesis was applied in comparable group of 20 patients in the same center and under the same circumstances. In both groups, patients were followed up for early wound infection, gross graft infection and early graft thrombosis at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. In group I patients, there was zero% incidence of graft infection even when groin wound infections occurred in the immediate postoperative period. The graft was resistant and wounds healed by secondary intention with no complications around the graft. In group II patients gross graft infection occurred in two patients and extra anatomical bypass was done after excision of the graft in one patient and the other patient died of intraabdominal hemorrhage due to aortic suture line disruption. The simple method of impregnation of preclotted graft in rifampin resulted in antibiotic retention and prevented serious prosthetic infection and should therefore be used in prophylaxis against vascular graft sepsis