NCT01821664

Brief Summary

Background: Vascular grafts are increasingly implanted due to an increasing prevalence of atherosclerosis and diabetes, and about 1-6% of vascular procedures are complicated by infection. Mortality attributable to prosthetic vascular graft infections (PVGI) is high. However, there are almost no data regarding best treatment options of such complicated infections. Most recommendations are based on expert opinion and not on clinical trials or cohort observational data analyses. Evaluating infectious and other complications after vascular surgery procedures are important, and additionally, such studies may offer insights for quality improvement and improved patient outcomes. With the first aim investigators will establish an infrastructure for studying PVGI in Zurich. Investigators will take advantage of the Swissvasc registry, a central registry which collects preoperative, operative and discharge data regarding the index vascular surgical interventions. They will create a prospective observational cohort database of all patients who receive a vascular graft (peripheral, aortic, vein) at the University hospital of Zurich (VASGRA Cohort A). Patients with a PVGI will be included in VASGRA Cohort B and followed up using a flow chart with a focus on the course of this infectious complication. Additionally, investigators will establish a biobank with the collection of tissue- and blood samples of patients with PVGI. With the second aim researchers will investigate different diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic research questions nested in the VASGRA Cohort. Firstly, they will address epidemiological questions, such as: determine the incidence and outcome of complications after vascular graft placement; determine risk factors, best treatment strategies and outcome of PVGI, and determine the influence of different antibiotic regimens on the outcome of PVGI due to different bacterial pathogens. Secondly, investigators will determine the accuracy of different imaging techniques (PET/CT and MRI) for the diagnosis of PVGI, and their individual role for the assessment of treatment response. Thirdly, investigators will evaluate the bacterial diversity of vascular wound infections using 16s r-Ribonucleic acid (RNA)amplification, and investigators will explore whether this bacterial diversity does predict disease progression. Here, investigators will also study the impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on bacterial diversity in the treatment course of PVGI. Fourthly, investigators will look for cut-off levels of relevant blood leucocytes count, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin raising suspicion of a PVGI. Lastly, investigators will look at histopathological features of excised vascular grafts. Expected value of the project: Results from the proposed study are an important contribution to the field, based on the large sample size, longitudinal design and by unifying clinical and epidemiological science. The very well characterized patient groups and the close connection between vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialists, specialists in nuclear medicine and microbiologist will help to investigate PVGI in depths. Investigators hope to be able to develop guidelines regarding best diagnostic modalities and treatment options in case of vascular graft infections. In the future we plan to examine bacteria retrieved from the PVGI in the laboratory in detail. The recovered bacteria will be examined for antimicrobial susceptibility and their capability to form biofilms. Furthermore investigators will examine how bacterial recovery form explanted grafts could be optimized.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
1,800

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2013

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 7, 2013

Completed
25 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 1, 2013

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2013

Completed
9.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2023

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

May 6, 2015

Status Verified

May 1, 2015

Enrollment Period

9.8 years

First QC Date

March 7, 2013

Last Update Submit

May 5, 2015

Conditions

Keywords

Prosthetic vascular graft infectionnegative pressure wound therapymicrobiologyantimicrobial therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Vascular graft infection

    Persons are followed up after vascular graft surgery.

    within 10 years

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Bleeding

    10 years

  • Foreign body reaction

    10 years

  • All cause- mortality

    10 years

Study Arms (1)

Prosthetic vascular graft implantation, follow up

Device: Prosthetic vascular graft

Interventions

Implantation of a prosthetic vascular graft

Also known as: Valsalva Graft, Gelwave TM, Subclavia Graft, Gelwave TM, Longer Ante-Flo Offset branch, Gelwave TM, Lupiae Branched Graft, Gelwave TM, 4 Branched Plexus, Gelwave TM, Bifurcate, Gelwave TM soft, Subclavia Graft straight, Gelwave TM soft, Intergard woven straight, Intervascular "Maquet Getinge Group", Intergard woven hemabridge, Intervascular "Maquet Getinge Group", Intergard woven Aortic Arch, Intervascular "Maquet Getinge Group", Intergard Silver Knitted Bifurcation, Intervascular "Maquet Getinge Group", Intergard Silver Knitted Straight, Intervascular "Maquet Getinge Group", InterGard TM knitted Bifurcation, Intervascular "Maquet Getinge Group", FlowLine Bipore r Heparin ePTFE Vascular Graft, Jotec r GmbH, ePTFE Vascular Graft Regular Wall flex, IMPRA r, ePTFE Vascular Graft Thin Wall flex, IMPRA r, ePTFE Vascular Graft Regular Wall straight, IMPRA r, Gore-Tex Stretch Vascular Graft standard Wall Eptfe, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inl
Prosthetic vascular graft implantation, follow up

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

All patients with a vascular surgery at the University hospital will be included in the study.

You may qualify if:

  • Control patients:
  • \- Vascular graft surgery (peripheral, aortic, vein)
  • Case patients:
  • Patients with previous primary implantation of an aortic or peripheral vascular implant and suspicion of PVGI
  • Age \>18 years
  • Written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Involvement in a conflicting clinical trial (investigational drug)
  • Inability to follow the procedures of the cohort, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders or dementia of the subject
  • Known or suspected non-compliance

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital Zurich, Div of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

  • Husmann L, Huellner MW, Ledergerber B, Anagnostopoulos A, Stolzmann P, Sah BR, Burger IA, Rancic Z, Hasse B; and the Vasgra Cohort. Comparing diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT, contrast enhanced CT and combined imaging in patients with suspected vascular graft infections. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2019 Jun;46(6):1359-1368. doi: 10.1007/s00259-018-4205-y. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

  • Anagnostopoulos A, Ledergerber B, Kuster SP, Scherrer AU, Naf B, Greiner MA, Rancic Z, Kobe A, Bettex D, Hasse B; VASGRA Cohort Study. Inadequate Perioperative Prophylaxis and Postsurgical Complications After Graft Implantation Are Important Risk Factors for Subsequent Vascular Graft Infections: Prospective Results From the Vascular Graft Infection Cohort Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Aug 1;69(4):621-630. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy956.

  • Husmann L, Ledergerber B, Anagnostopoulos A, Stolzmann P, Sah BR, Burger IA, Pop R, Weber A, Mayer D, Rancic Z, Hasse B; VASGRA Cohort Study. The role of FDG PET/CT in therapy control of aortic graft infection. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2018 Oct;45(11):1987-1997. doi: 10.1007/s00259-018-4069-1. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

  • Ajdler-Schaeffler E, Scherrer AU, Keller PM, Anagnostopoulos A, Hofmann M, Rancic Z, Zinkernagel AS, Bloemberg GV, Hasse BK; and the VASGRA Cohort. Increased Pathogen Identification in Vascular Graft Infections by the Combined Use of Tissue Cultures and 16S rRNA Gene Polymerase Chain Reaction. Front Med (Lausanne). 2018 Jun 4;5:169. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00169. eCollection 2018.

  • Husmann L, Sah BR, Scherrer A, Burger IA, Stolzmann P, Weber R, Rancic Z, Mayer D, Hasse B; VASGRA Cohort. (1)(8)F-FDG PET/CT for Therapy Control in Vascular Graft Infections: A First Feasibility Study. J Nucl Med. 2015 Jul;56(7):1024-9. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.115.156265. Epub 2015 May 14.

Study Officials

  • Barbara Hasse, MD

    University Hospital Zurich, Div of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Target Duration
10 Years
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 7, 2013

First Posted

April 1, 2013

Study Start

May 1, 2013

Primary Completion

March 1, 2023

Study Completion

March 1, 2023

Last Updated

May 6, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-05

Locations