Purpose: To discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of stent-related infections on the basis of 2 new cases and historical review.
Case reports: Two previously unreported cases of vascular stent infection are presented with a summary of cases from the literature. One case involved an iliac artery stent infection secondary to a remote bacteremia 6 months after stent placement. The other case was an early iliac vein stent infection, a previously unreported site of this complication. Both cases were diagnosed by use of computed tomography and were treated surgically after medical management failed. Both patients survived.
Conclusions: A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis of stent infections, and an aggressive treatment is usually necessary for survival. Prophylactic antibiotics should definitely be considered in cases involving repeat interventions and prolonged catheterization, as well as before bacteremia-inducing therapies.