Type IIIb Endoleak Associated With an Infected Thoracoabdominal Endograft

We present a 63-year-old male patient who presented with vague abdominal pain after an endoluminal thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. He was found to have an infected endograft and an associated type IIIb endoleak. We believe that the infection contributed to the fabric degradation along the endograft and resulted in an expanding endoleak. Graft explantation was not performed because of the patient's multiple comorbidities, and the endoleak was treated with an additional stent graft and suppressive antibiotics. Endograft infection may lead to endograft degradation and associated leak. Therefore, an infectious etiology, although rare, should be considered when evaluating a delayed type IIIb endoleak.
Source: Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research