Uncomplicated vaginal delivery 6 years after stent graft repair of an acute traumatic aortic transection

Abstract

Acute traumatic transection of the aorta (ATAT) is a devastating event. Transluminal endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has meanwhile become an excellent alternative for such lesions. A 27-year old woman sustained a multiple trauma in a car accident including ATAT which was treated by aortic stent graft placement. Six years after the endovascular repair, our patient had only noticed, just shortly after an annual computed tomography (CT) check-up, that she was pregnant and in the 9th week of gestation. The CT was considered as unproblematic for the foetus since direct radiation of the uterus had been avoided. Our patient clearly preferred a vaginal delivery over a caesarean section. The pregnancy was uneventful with uncomplicated vaginal delivery at term. This case shows that vaginal delivery is possible if the stent graft is in regular position without signs of endoleaks and the rest of the aorta is free from dissection or aneurysm formation. It indicates that TEVAR is a sound and durable treatment modality in ATATs and that aortic stent grafts can resist increased intravascular volume and elevated aortic pressure levels as encountered in pregnancy and during vaginal delivery. This particular case also shows that it is possible to respect a patient's right of self-determination.