Thrombus originating from frayed distal edge of an aortic stent-graft.

An 87-year-old woman who had undergone a stent-graft repair of a descending aortic aneurysm had additional stent-graft implantation for endoleak. The postoperative course was eventful reflecting her preexisting multiple organ disorder, and despite intensive treatment over a span of 2 months, she died of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to intestinal ischemia. Autopsy revealed a thrombus originating from the frayed distal edge of the graft. Although the relation between intestinal ischemia and the thrombus remains to be proven, this is considered a vital finding.