Abstract
Objective: The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with vascular graft or endograft infection (VGEI), in succession to the 2020 version, with the aim of assisting physicians and patients in selecting the best management strategy.
Methods: The guidelines are based on scientific evidence complemented with expert opinion. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the evaluation and management of patients with VGEI have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to the ESVS grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III, and the level of evidence from A to C.
Results: Eighty-one recommendations have been issued across the following main topics: definitions, diagnosis, multidisciplinary team management, antimicrobial therapy, management of intracavity or extracavity VGEI, and follow up. A chapter addresses the concept of shared decision making, with supporting information for patients. A final chapter addresses unresolved issues.
Conclusion: These ESVS clinical practice guidelines provide comprehensive, up to date advice to clinicians and patients on the management of VGEI.