Endovascular leaks: perioperative nursing implications

Endovascular repair is becoming the gold standard treatment for aortic aneurysm disease. With the development of new treatment modalities, however, new and unique complications arise. Endovascular stent graft leaks (ie, endoleaks) are one such complication. Endoleaks occur when blood leaks into the aneurysm sac after an endovascular stent repair. Endoleaks are divided into four categories (ie, I through IV) depending on the site of origin; perioperative nurses must become familiar with treatment options for each type of endoleak.