Perigraft vascularization and incorporation of implanted Dacron prostheses are affected by rifampicin coating

The coating of Dacron prostheses with rifampicin is by now an approved method, which is recommended by many vascular surgeons for the prevention of prosthetic vascular graft infection. However, its real clinical benefit remains uncertain and is discussed controversially. Our results are important considering that an adequate incorporation of vascular prostheses during the early healing process is essential for the prevention of perioperative graft infection. The vascular surgeon should be aware that local coating of Dacron vascular grafts with rifampicin might be detrimental to vascular graft incorporation as we could show in our in vivo experiment.