Inferior vena cava stent-graft placement to treat endoleak associated with an aortocaval fistula.

PURPOSE

To report a case in which a persistent high-flow type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of a leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) complicated by an aortocaval fistula was repaired with a stent-graft in the inferior vena cava (IVC).

CASE REPORT

A 76-year-old man underwent emergent EVAR with an aortomonoiliac device to exclude a leaking 9-cm AAA. The 30-day computed tomography (CT) scan showed 2-mm sac expansion and a type II endoleak arising from a lumbar artery; the outflow vessel was the inferior vena cava (IVC) via a fistula that was not depicted on the non-contrast preoperative CT or the intraoperative angiogram. No intervention was deemed necessary at the time. Six months after EVAR, the AAA had not expanded further, but the fistula between the sac and the IVC was larger in diameter. A tubular stent-graft was implanted in the IVC to seal the defect. No complications have been noted up to 36 months after the IVC stent-graft procedure.

CONCLUSION

Aortocaval fistulae should be excluded in the case of persistent type II endoleaks after EVAR for ruptured AAAs. IVC endografting is a minimally invasive alternative to treat such a complication, with promising midterm results in this patient.