Fenestrated stent-graft for traumatic juxtahepatic inferior vena cava injury.

PURPOSE: To report the use of a fenestrated stent-graft to manage a traumatic rupture of the juxtahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC).

CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old man was involved in a traffic accident and hospitalized for severe right leg fractures. Computed tomography also uncovered liver contusion and retroperitoneal hematoma. The next day, he became hemodynamically unstable; a huge retroperitoneal hematoma had developed from a rupture of the juxtahepatic IVC. An emergent procedure to implant a self-expanding fenestrated stent-graft was successful in repairing the IVC injury and maintaining hepatic venous return. The patient recovered and continues in good health with a patent endograft 16 months after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This experience supports the efficacy of fenestrated endograft implantation for emergent repair of IVC injuries, although proper facilities, an experienced interventional team, and an assortment of devices must be available.