A stent-graft prosthesis for implantation within a body vessel includes a graft material, a frame, and a channel. The graft material includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a graft lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The frame is coupled to the graft material. The channel is configured to relieve pressure associated with pulsatile blood flow during implantation of the stent-graft prosthesis within a body vessel. The channel permits blood to flow from an upstream side of the stent-graft prosthesis to a downstream side of the stent-graft prosthesis when the stent-graft prosthesis is in a partially expanded configuration in the body vessel. The channel may be a plurality of channels.
