title: Aortic rupture after spinal correction for scoliosis in the presence of a thoracic stent graft.
abstract: Corrective surgery for scoliosis often results in a lengthening of the spinal column and relative change of the position of the adjacent anatomical structures such as the aorta. The extent of these anatomical changes could be affected by the presence of a rigid aortic stent graft in the descending thoracic aorta. We present a case of aortic rupture after spinal correction for scoliosis in a 56-year-old female with a thoracic aortic stent graft. Extensive elongation of the aorta with concentration of the stress forces at the lower margin of the stent graft resulted in a weakening of the aortic wall and subsequent rupture.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. kevin.mani@surgsci.uu.se
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantatalo
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjurholm
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thelin
authors.forename: Lars-Gunnar
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wanhainen
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013314:Stress, Mechanical