Perigraft air mimicking infection on CT angiography following open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Bradley Trinidad, Craig Weinkauf, John Hughes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aortic graft infection is a feared complication after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair secondary to its high mortality. Perigraft air is a common finding after open aortic aneurysm repair; however, it is also associated with aortic graft infection. Delineating between graft infection and common postoperative finding is a challenge. This is further complicated by use of hemostatic agents such as Gelfoam, which is also documented to cause perigraft air. Correct diagnosis has crucial implications in management of potential aortic graft infection, which is a vascular emergency. We report a case of perigraft air in a patient status after open aortic aneurysm repair with associated clinical manifestations of infection in whom conservative management and surveillance was selected for treatment. We then discuss the timeline of perigraft air, potential causation, importance of history, and physical examination, and finally, we discuss how specific findings on computed tomography imaging for infection in other areas may be useful in aortic graft infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)343-346
Number of pages4
JournalRadiology Case Reports
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2018

Keywords

  • Aortic graft infection
  • Perigraft air

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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