Thrombosis of a Bifurcated Endograft following Lower-Back Microwave Therapy

Abstract

Purpose:

To describe an unusual case involving thrombosis in an aortic endograft limb following microwave therapy (MWT) for lumbar pain.

Case Report:

A 77-year-old man had successful repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a Vanguard endograft. He had been free of complications during the 3-year follow-up. Five days after the 36-month surveillance angiogram, the patient was treated with MWT for chronic left-sided lumbar pain due to vertebral arthrosis. Immediately after this session, the patient presented with acute ischemia in the left lower limb. Computed tomographic angiography showed a thrombosis of the left limb of the endograft. A femorofemoral crossover bypass was performed. No complication was observed in later surveillance.

Conclusions:

It may be advisable to avoid MWT and other deep heating therapies in patients with endografts. This caution is applicable to other metallic stents.