Type III Endoleak from a Thoracic Aortic Stent-Graft

Abstract

Purpose:

To present an as yet unreported late complication of an Excluder thoracic endograft.

Case Report:

A 78-year-old man underwent surgery for a ruptured type V thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in 1996. Four years later, an aneurysm was detected in the proximal thoracic aorta and repaired with 2 Excluder endoprostheses. At 12 months, computed tomography showed an increase in the aneurysm sac diameter and a type III endoleak, which was traced to a hole in the stent-graft fabric on arteriography. No fracture of the metal components was detected in the stent-grafts. Another Excluder device was implanted within the distal endograft. Satisfactory exclusion of the leak has been maintained for 6 months.

Conclusions:

The risk of type III leaks must be minimized before stent-grafting can be regarded as a routine procedure in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Keywords

descending thoracic aorta thoracic aortic aneurysm Excluder stent-graft fabric defect

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