BACKGROUND: Infected femoral @entity2849 (IFAP) is a severe complication in parenteral drug abusers, with difficult and controversial management. Ligation alone without revascularization is frequently associated with later intermittent @entity613 and limb amputation. Furthermore, arterial reconstruction with a synthetic or venous conduit is limited because of a contaminated field and, often, unavailability of autologous venous grafts. In this study, we present our experience with the internal iliac artery (IIA) as a graft for arterial reconstruction after IFAP excision in these @entity1 . METHODS: Data of 14 consecutive @entity1 who presented with IFAP secondary to parenteral drug abuse from 2001 to 2005 were analyzed. Twelve @entity1 (85.7%) were male. The median age was 27 years (range, 19-42 years). In 13 cases, the IFAP involved the common femoral artery, and in 1 case it involved the profunda femoris artery (PFA). In nine @entity1 , we used the IIA for arterial reconstruction (five as a patch and four as an interposition graft), whereas in two @entity1 the arterial deficit was repaired with a great saphenous vein patch. In two cases, an extra-anatomic bypass with a synthetic @entity736 graft was performed. In one @entity1 , the @entity2849 involved the @entity10461 and was treated with excision and ligation of the PFA. RESULTS: All nine @entity1 who underwent revascularization with the use of IIA were free of @entity613 symptoms. None of them experienced any perioperative @entity532 , had signs of reinfection, or required limb amputation during the follow-up period (median, 19 months; range, 4-52 months). Regarding the remaining five @entity1 , one died 25 days after surgery because of @entity177 , and one underwent reoperation because of proximal anastomotic rupture of a synthetic graft. The latter @entity1 finally underwent a transmetatarsal amputation. CONCLUSIONS: The use of IIA for arterial reconstruction after IFAP excision in drug abusers is safe and effective. These preliminary results indicate that the implementation of this technique offers many advantages compared with traditional treatment options.

Infected femoral XXXX in drug addicts: the beneficial use of the internal iliac artery for arterial reconstruction.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity532 :: ('MESH:D003925', 'Disease') :: ['complications'] @entity10461 :: ('CHEBI:60594', 'Chemical') :: ['PFA'] @entity177 :: ('MESH:D051437', 'Disease') :: ['multiorgan failure'] @entity613 :: ('MESH:D007383', 'Disease') :: ['claudication'] @entity736 :: ('CHEBI:53251', 'Chemical') :: ['polytetrafluoroethylene'] @entity2849 :: ('MESH:D017541', 'Disease') :: ['pseudoaneurysm', 'artery pseudoaneurysm']
@entity2849 :: (MESH:D017541,Disease) :: ['artery pseudoaneurysm']
