Type III endoleak from a thoracic aortic stent-graft.

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

Methods: 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.