Vascular graft infections involving the thoracic aorta have high morbidity and mortality
rates. The management of homograft reinfection has not been discussed yet. A 23-year-old
woman suffered a rupture of the descending thoracic aorta. Seven months after interposition
of a Dacron graft she was readmitted for graft infection and a homograft was inserted.
An esophageal lesion was oversewn. Follow-up CT showed several aneurysms around the
homograft. She underwent implantation of an extra-anatomic ascending-descending aorta
Dacron bypass with stump closure of the descending aorta. The patient is alive and
free from reinfection seven years later.
Aortic disease - cardiovascular surgery - thoracic surgery