Surgical Treatment of Acute Thoracic Stent Graft Occlusion

Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Feb;107(2):e127-e129. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2018.05.099. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Abstract

A 24-year-old man presented with acute onset paraplegia related to complete occlusion of a thoracic stent graft placed 2 years prior for repair of traumatic type B aortic dissection. Following emergency surgery comprising reestablishment of aortic flow by stent removal and aortic reconstruction, the paraplegia started to resolve partly, despite an estimated 5-hour interval of preoperative myelum ischemia. Anatomical characteristics of the stent graft placement appear to have played a role in causing this rare complication. Six months later, the patient could walk again with a stick. This case shows that early intervention in cases of full paraplegia may be considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • Device Removal
  • Graft Occlusion, Vascular / complications
  • Graft Occlusion, Vascular / diagnostic imaging
  • Graft Occlusion, Vascular / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Paraplegia / etiology*
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Stents / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed