Endovascular repair of a traumatic thoracic aortic injury resulting in late aortic dilatation.

We present an unusual complication following endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic injury using a homemade stent-graft. Although an initial technical success was apparently obtained, the aorta showed remarkable dilatation without shortening or migration of the stent skeleton in late follow-up period. The possible cause of the dilatation was considered to be the expansion and gathering of the crimped, loosely attached, graft fabric in addition to the incomplete exclusion due to the insufficient landing zone and the limited radial force. Thus, the specific feature of stent-graft, considered to provide an advantage to treatment, has adversely affected the native aorta.