Infections of vascular grafts are associated with significant mortality and morbidity risk and cost an estimated $640 million annually in the United States. Clinical presentation varies by time elapsed from implantation and by surgical site. A thorough history and physical examination in conjunction with a variety of imaging modalities is often essential to diagnosis. For infected aortic grafts, there are several options for treatment, including graft excision with extra-anatomic bypass, in situ reconstruction, or reconstruction with the neo-aortoiliac system. The management of infected endovascular aortic grafts is similar. For infected peripheral bypasses, graft preservation techniques can be utilized, but in cases where it is not possible, graft removal and revascularization through uninfected tissue planes is necessary. Infected dialysis access can be surgically treated by complete or subtotal graft excision. Diagnosis, general management, and surgical approaches to infected vascular grafts are discussed in this review.

Venous thoracic outlet syndrome is a complex but rare disease that often can have excellent outcomes if quickly recognized and treated. The syndrome results from compression of the subclavian vein along its exit from the thoracic cavity and frequently affects young otherwise healthy patients. Modern diagnosis is made with a combination of clinical exam, appropriate non-invasive imaging, and, finally, contrast venography, which can be both diagnostic and therapeutic. Treatments have evolved over time to the point where patients can undergo less extensive procedures than previously performed and still maintain excellent outcomes. One of the most important predictors of outcome is the initiation of treatment within 14 days of symptoms. Hence, the importance of the accurate and prompt diagnosis of this syndrome in patients with an upper-extremity deep vein thrombotic episode cannot be further underscored. This review is a concise summary of the background and treatment algorithm for this patient population.

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is a widely recognized, yet controversial, syndrome. The lack of specific objective diagnostic modalities makes diagnosis difficult. This is compounded by a lack of agreed upon definitive criteria to confirm diagnosis. Recent efforts have been made to more clearly define a set of diagnostic criteria that will bring consistency to the diagnosis of neurogenic thoracic syndrome. Additionally, advancements have been made in the quality and techniques of various imaging modalities that may aid in providing more accurate diagnoses. Surgical decompression remains the mainstay of operative treatment; and minimally invasive techniques are currently in development to further minimize the risks of this procedure. Medical management continues to be refined to provide non-operative treatment modalities for certain patients, as well. The aim of the present work is to review these updates in the diagnosis and treatment of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.