Embolization of perigraft leaks after endovascular stent-graft treatment of aortic aneurysms.

PURPOSE

Perigraft leak is one of the significant problems associated with transluminal placement of stent-grafts in the treatment of aortic aneurysms. This report describes the authors' experience with transcatheter coil embolization for the treatment of perigraft leaks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten patients who underwent transluminal placement of stent-grafts for the treatment of aortic aneurysms were treated. All patients had one or more tracts between the aortic wall and stent-graft or between two stent-grafts, resulting in residual aneurysm filling. All tracts were embolized by means of transcatheter deposition of platinum or steel coils.

RESULTS

In all patients, all tracts were embolized completely and residual aneurysm filling was eliminated. Complete thrombosis of the aneurysm was confined on follow-up spiral computed tomography in all 10 cases. Two cases required two embolization procedures to completely embolize the tracts. No recurrent leaks or aneurysm expansions were identified on follow-up studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Although long-term effectiveness remains to be proved, the initial results with transcatheter coil embolization of tracts are encouraging and suggest this technique is a safe and effective method for the management of perigraft leaks after endovascular placement of stent-grafts.