Case report of a type III endoleak presenting only decades after endovascular aortic repair.

INTRODUCTION

Type III endoleaks are a rare but potentially life-threatening complication post endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

CASE REPORT: A 91-year-old Chinese female, presented to our accident and emergency department for severe back and abdominal pain. She had previously undergone an EVAR procedure twenty years ago for a 6.5 cm diameter infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm. A CT aortogram revealed a type III endoleak, with the contralateral limb found to be disconnected from the main graft body. She was successfully treated by relining the graft using an endovascular technique.

DISCUSSION: The case highlights the need for life-long stent-graft surveillance. We discuss early generation stent-grafts, type III endoleak treatment options and the current long-term data for late EVAR-related complications.

CONCLUSION

For patients who had undergone EVAR, type III endoleaks can present only decades later and pose a significant risk of aneurysmal rupture.