Yi Jeniann A, Kuwayama David P
Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colo.
J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2018 Dec 31;5(1):18-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2018.08.011. eCollection 2019 Mar.
The Gore VBX stent graft (Gore Medical, Flagstaff, Ariz) provides a new option for branching of fenestrated aortic endografts. However, its modular stent structure has raised concerns about potential kinking at the interspace between stent rings if lateralizing force exists between the fenestration and target vessel orifice. We present a case of near-occlusion of a VBX celiac branch due to narrowing of this interspace identified at postoperative month 3. Although the Gore VBX offers several potential advantages as a branch endoprosthesis, its design poses the risk of unpredictable, delayed-onset kinking and raises concern for its use as a fenestrated endograft branch.