Aortoiliac-graft infection. Detection by leukocyte scan
C. A. Stevick and H. D. Fawcett
Infection of a vascular synthetic graft in the aortoliac position is a
lethal complication of vascular reconstructive surgery. Difficulties in
diagnosis and the subsequent delays in treatment are significant factors in
the excessive mortality. Currently available diagnostic methods are
extremely limited in their ability to detect infection in the
retroperitoneal position, particularly at an early stage. A case is
reported in which an aortoiliac-graft infection was detected by a leukocyte
scan using indium 111 while the infection was at a relatively subtle
clinical stage, and possible future application of leukocyte scanning to
this difficult diagnostic problem is discussed.
