Nonvisualized type III endoleak masquerading as endotension: a case report

Here, we describe a case of nonvisualized type III endoleak masquerading as endotension that was diagnosed by opening the aneurysm sac during surgery and successfully treated surgically. A 79-year-old man underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) 4 years previously for an aneurysm that had enlarged gradually without endoleak. An open surgical operation was performed. The sac pressure was 132 mm Hg-similar to the preoperative systolic blood pressure-and nonpulsatile. After the aneurysm sac was opened without clamping the aorta, a type III endoleak from the suture point of the prosthetic endograft was detected. The prosthetic graft was successfully replaced with a Y-graft. The current findings suggest that nonvisualized type III endoleaks may be a potential cause of endotension.