Closure of a penetrating ulcer of the descending aorta using an Amplatzer occluder.

Symptomatic patients with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers of the descending thoracic aorta have traditionally been treated by using an open surgical repair. The emergence of thoracic aortic stent-graft technologies has introduced a less invasive treatment option, which often involves covering excess portions of a normal aorta with stent-graft material. We describe the mid-term follow-up of a patient with a symptomatic penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta treated with an Amplatzer septal occluder device (AGA Medical Corp, Plymouth, MN), which is typically used for structural heart disease.