Question

A 72 year old man undergoes repair of a ruptured AAA. The surgery is difficult, but the bleeding is controlled and the aorta is repaired. Two months later, the patient returns with a fever and an inflamed femoral incision. What is the concern?

Answer 1

A 72-year-old man with a postoperative fever and inflamed incision following AAA repair is worrisome for an infection at the surgical site, potentially involving the vascular graft, which could lead to serious complications such as sepsis.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 72-year-old man returning with a fever and an inflamed femoral incision two months after an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is of concern for a potential infection at the site of the surgical incision. In such cases, there is a risk of graft infection, which is a serious complication. It requires prompt medical attention, including diagnostic imaging to assess the repair site, and may necessitate empirical antibiotic therapy, surgical debridement, or in severe cases reoperation. In clinical scenarios with fever and localized inflammation following a procedure, especially in vascular surgery where prosthetic materials are commonly used, the risk of prosthetic graft infections must be considered since they can lead to life-threatening complications like sepsis.