Static mechanical properties of custom-made aortic endografts.

Several cases of delayed aortic rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair have been attributed to in vivo endograft fatigue. Such complications could involve damage to structural components during introduction. The purpose of this study was to compare forces applied during introduction to forces needed to damage the endograft. Testing was carried out on the custom-made endograft (CMEG) that has been in almost exclusive use at our center since 1996. Findings showed that the force applied during introduction was less than the force necessary to damage the endograft. No alteration in the mechanical properties of the CMEG was observed immediately after implantation.