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Endoleak types

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

Endoleaks occurs when an aneurymal sac continues to be presurised despite endoluminal stent placement. There are five types of endoleaks:

type 1 - leak at graft ends (inadequate seal) - most common after repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms ⁴
- 1a - proximal
- 1b - distal
- 1c - iliac occluder
type 2 - sac filling via branch vessel (eg lumbar or inferior mesenteric artery)
- most common after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms ⁴ (80%)
- sometimes referred to as a "retroleak"
- enthusiastic examiners sometimes ask for the eponymous name of the large collateral artery between the IMA and SMA = Riolan's arch.
- most spontaneously resolve and require no treatment.
- 2a - single vessel
- 2b - two vessels or more
type 3 - leak through a defect in graft fabric (mechanical failure of graft)
- 3a - junctional separation of the modular components
- 3b - fractures or holes involving the endograft