External iliac artery-to-internal iliac artery endograft: a novel approach to preserve pelvic inflow in aortoiliac stent grafting.

PURPOSE: To describe four patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms repaired by coil embolization of the ipsilateral internal iliac artery, aortouniiliac endograft extended to the ipsilateral external iliac artery, femorofemoral bypass grafting, and a contralateral external iliac to internal iliac stent graft to preserve pelvic perfusion. METHODS: Four patients with multiple risk factors, abdominal aortic aneurysm (mean diameter, 6.6 cm), and bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms were evaluated with contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning, arteriography, and intravascular ultrasonography. Aortobiiliac endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair was not feasible because of extension of the common iliac artery aneurysms to the iliac bifurcation bilaterally. RESULTS: The abdominal aortic aneurysms were repaired with an aortouniiliac endograft. The ipsilateral common iliac artery aneurysms were treated by coil embolization of the internal iliac artery and extension of the endograft to the external iliac artery. The contralateral common iliac artery aneurysms were excluded by a custom-made stent graft (n = 2) or a commercial stent graft (n = 2) from the external iliac artery to the internal iliac artery, which preserved pelvic inflow via retrograde perfusion from the femorofemoral bypass. Mean length of stay was 3.5 days. One patient had hip claudication. Follow-up (mean 10 months, range 6 to 17) demonstrated exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and common iliac artery aneurysms with no endoleak and patent external iliac artery-to-internal iliac artery endografts in all patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms that extend to the iliac bifurcation may be excluded from endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair because of concerns regarding pelvic ischemia after occlusion of both internal iliac arteries. External iliac artery-to-internal iliac artery endografting is a feasible alternative to maintain pelvic perfusion and still allow endograft repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm in these patients.     

Endovascular Treatment of Isolated Iliac Artery Aneurysms

We report our experience of endovascular repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms using commercially available stent grafts (SGs). Twenty-five patients (mean age 71 ± 7 years) presented with 33 isolated iliac artery aneurysms (common iliac artery n = 29, external iliac artery n = 4). Five patients were symptomatic. Depending on the proximal iliac neck and the presence of unilateral or bilateral iliac artery aneurysms, the patient was treated by tube or bifurcated SG that was delivered percutaneously (n = 14) or through surgical exposure of one femoral artery (n = 12). In our follow-up control protocol, the patients are routinely scheduled after 1, 4, and 12 months and then annually after the intervention. Primary technical success with an instant exclusion of the aneurysm was achieved in all patients. The perioperative (<30 days) mortality rate was 0. Major complications did not occur. Mean hospitalization was 6 ± 6 days (range 2-28, median 4). Four patients (16%) died during follow-up. At a mean follow-up of 32 months (range 3-72, median 36), we detected three type 1 endoleaks (14.3%) that were managed with additional SG; two stenoses at the distal extremity of the SGs, treated with mechanical thrombectomy; and additional stent. In the remaining patients (n = 17), computed tomography angiography confirmed the patency of the SG and the absence of device complication (e.g., endoleak, migration, breakage); shrinkage of the aneurysm was observed in 11 cases (52.4%). Overall, survival rates at 1, 4, and 5 years were 91.6%, 73.3%, and 58.6%, respectively; event-free rates at 1 and 3 years were 79.4% and 67.4%, respectively. In our experience, SG treatment for isolated iliac artery aneurysm proved to be a feasible and low-risk procedure with acceptable mid-term results. At our institute, it is the primary alternative to conventional surgical repair and is offered as first-line treatment.     

腔内修复术治疗孤立性髂动脉瘤14例

目的探讨腔内治疗孤立性髂动脉瘤的疗效。方法回顾性分析2004年10月至2006年5月腔内修复孤立性髂动脉瘤14例的临床资料。其中,右髂总动脉瘤8例,左髂总动脉瘤5例,左髂内动脉瘤破裂1例。髂动脉瘤腔内修复的标准是瘤体直径〉3．0cm。结果14例均取得技术成功。8例右髂总动脉瘤,钢圈栓塞右髂内动脉后选用分叉支架型人工血管行腔内修复术。其中1例右髂总动脉瘤累及腹主动脉下端,选用AUl支架型人工血管腔内修复加股．股动脉旁路术。5例左髂总动脉瘤栓塞同侧髂内动脉后选用直型支架型人工血管。1例左髂内动脉瘤破裂急诊行钢圈栓塞后选用直型支架覆盖左髂内动脉开口。术后即刻数字减影血管造影显示动脉瘤消失,远近端支架型人工血管与宿主动脉结合处均未见明显渗漏。1例术后出现急性左心功能不全和肺水肿,经抢救痊愈,其余13例无手术并发症。术后CTA随访10．2个月（3～19个月）,瘤体无增大,支架无移位,无内漏,旁路人工血管通畅。结论腔内修复术治疗孤立性髂动脉瘤具有可行、安全、微创等特点,近期疗效较好,远期效果需进一步随访。     

Endovascular repair of a ruptured internal iliac arterial aneurysm with a novel application of the aorto-uni-iliac converter device

Internal iliac artery aneurysms are rarely discovered by examination and may consequently present with rupture in a patient without an established diagnosis. Ruptured internal iliac aneurysms harbor a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Although open repair is possible, endovascular repair may be an option in some patients. We present a case of a ruptured internal iliac artery aneurysm with an adjoining ipsilateral common iliac artery aneurysm repaired with a novel use of an aorto-uni-iliac device.     

Clinical implications of internal iliac artery embolization in endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms

To overcome constraints imposed by iliac artery anatomy, the anatomic inclusion criteria for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair can be extended by means of intentional coil occlusion of one or both internal iliac arteries and extension of the distal limb of the graft into an external iliac artery. We reviewed our experience with this intervention to determine the safety and efficacy of this approach to aneurysm repair. Over a 30-month period, 84 patients underwent endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; 23 underwent intentional unilateral (22) or bilateral (1) internal iliac artery occlusion. Morbidity, mortality, and long-term clinical outcomes were evaluated in these 23 patients. Patients were specifically questioned about exercise-induced buttock and extremity symptoms. Our results showed that intentional internal iliac artery embolization to allow endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms is accompanied by significant morbidity and should be approached with caution.     

Contemporary Management of Aorto-iliac Aneurysms in the Endovascular Era

Up to 40% of abdominal aortic aneurysms have co-existing unilateral or bilateral iliac artery ectasia or aneurysm. These are associated with an increased risk of endoleak, morbidity and mortality following endoluminal repair. To reduce the adverse sequelae of internal iliac artery (IIA) occlusion, various open, endovascular and hybrid measures have been described to maintain perfusion to the pelvis. This review discusses the contemporary management of aorto-iliac aneurysm in the endovascular era with reference to the sequelae of IIA occlusion and the strategies to preserve IIA perfusion. Particular consideration is given to iliac bifurcation devices.     

腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术中髂动脉瘤的处理策略

目的:探讨腹主动脉瘤合并髂动脉瘤的腔内修复术(EVAR)方法。方法:回顾性分析2007年8月—2014年3月35例腹主动脉瘤合并髂动脉瘤行EVAR术患者资料,其中9例合并单侧髂内动脉瘤,1例合并双侧髂内动脉瘤,14例合并单侧髂总动脉瘤(直径18 mm),11例合并双侧髂总动脉瘤,所用腔内技术包括栓塞髂内动脉瘤后覆盖,髂内动脉瘤单纯覆盖,"喇叭口"支架,以及"三明治"技术重建一侧髂内动脉等。结果:所有腔内技术均获得成功,手术时间(125±40)min,出血量(173±65)m L。术中发现内漏8例(22.9%),其中I型内漏4例(近端2例,远端2例)均经球囊扩张后内漏消失,III型内漏1例,经扩张及部分加弹簧圈栓塞后内漏消失,II型内漏2例及IV型内漏1例,均未予处理。35例术后随访6~60个月,无动脉瘤破裂,2例术后6个月发现腹主动脉瘤体增大,造影确诊远端I型内漏,经弹簧圈栓塞后内漏消失,其余33例瘤体直径无增大。结论:对于合并髂动脉瘤的腹主动脉瘤患者,有效处理髂内动脉,然后根据髂总动脉直径选择合适的治疗方法可以达到理想的近期效果。     

Endovascular common iliac aneurysm exclusion with antegrade hypogastric artery flow preservation: a novel approach

Open surgical repair of iliac aneurysms has been usually associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The introduction of novel endovascular techniques has expanded the currently available options to treat these aneurysms. However, the use of endoluminal stent grafts to treat common iliac artery aneurysms by landing their distal end into the hypogastric artery in patients where flow into the latter artery is crucial to avoid end-organ ischemia has only been rarely reported in the past. A case report of a common iliac aneurysm case treated with a novel therapeutic approach, not previously reported is herein presented. Three telescopically-overlapping Hemobahn/Viabahn polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered endoprosthesis (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) were used with success.     

Technical tips for endovascular repair of common iliac artery aneurysms

Isolated common iliac artery aneurysms are rare, comprising <2% of all aneurysm disease. These aneurysms present as either isolated disease, .03% of the population, or, in conjunction with abdominal aortic aneurysm, in approximately 20% to 25% of such cases. Common iliac artery aneurysms are defined as any localized dilatation of the common iliac artery >1.5 cm in diameter. Elective repair for isolated common iliac artery aneurysms is generally not undertaken for aneurysms <3 cm in diameter unless they are part of an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Most common iliac artery aneurysms are found incidentally during abdominal/pelvic diagnostic imaging studies or at the time of pelvic or abdominal surgery. As with abdominal aortic aneurysms, endovascular repair of common iliac artery aneurysms follows techniques similar to those used for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Management includes aneurysm exclusion with an endograft, which seals at sites within the proximal and distal common iliac artery and may involve coil occlusion of the hypogastric artery with extension of the reconstruction into the proximal external iliac artery, or use a "bell-bottom" endograft limb placed at the common iliac bifurcation. Technical tips for successful outcome are described here, and all US Food and Drug Administration approved endografts have been used for repair. There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes that correlated with device or repair techniques used for management of common iliac artery aneurysms. Mid-term 54-month outcome has been excellent, with no common iliac artery ruptures or aneurysm-related deaths and the need for secondary interventions was gratifyingly small.     

Five-year outcomes from a prospective,multicenter study of endovascular repair of iliac artery aneurysms using an iliac branch device

ObjectiveWe have reported the 5-year results of a pivotal prospective, multicenter study conducted in the United States of a specifically designed iliac branch endoprosthesis (IBE; W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) for endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms and common iliac artery aneurysms.MethodsA total of 63 patients (98.4% male; mean age, 70 years) with aortoiliac or common iliac artery aneurysms had undergone implantation of a single IBE device and a bifurcated aortoiliac stent graft. Patients with bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms (n = 22; 34.9%) had undergone either staged occlusion or surgical revascularization of the contralateral internal iliac artery before study enrollment. At 5 years, 36 of the 63 patients had completed the final study follow-up examinations, including clinical examinations (n = 35) and computed tomography (n = 32), with the results evaluated by an independent core laboratory and adverse events adjudicated by a clinical events committee.ResultsAt 5 years, freedom from all-cause mortality was 85.7% and freedom from aneurysm-related mortality was 100%. The nine deaths that had occurred (range, 132-1898 days) were adjudicated as unrelated to the aneurysm or procedure. Primary patency of the internal and external iliac artery IBE limbs was 95.1% and 100%, respectively. No patients had experienced new-onset buttock claudication on the IBE side or self-reported new-onset erectile dysfunction. The common iliac artery diameter on the IBE side was either unchanged or had decreased by ≥5 mm in 30 of the 31 patients (96.8%) with a baseline (1 month) and 5-year (range, 1641-2006 days) computed tomography scan available. Of the 31 evaluable patients, 9 (29.0%) had had an increase of ≥5 mm in the aortic diameter, 5 of whom had had a concurrent type II endoleak. No type I or type III endoleaks or device migration were identified by the core laboratory. Six patients had undergone eight secondary interventions, including five interventions for a type II endoleak. The freedom from secondary intervention was 90.5%.ConclusionsThe 5-year results of our prospective, multicenter study have confirmed the safety, efficacy, and durability of the IBE device for the treatment of aortoiliac and iliac artery aneurysms. The device effectively prevented common iliac artery aneurysm rupture, maintained the patency of the internal iliac artery, and avoided the complications associated with internal iliac artery sacrifice. Although common iliac artery aneurysm enlargement was rare, abdominal aortic enlargement was more common, suggesting that the outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair might be different for patients with or without associated common iliac artery aneurysms.     

The surgical treatment of arterial aneurysms in Behçet disease: a report of 16 patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to report our experience in the surgical treatment of arterial aneurysms in patients with Beh?et disease. METHODS: From October 2001 through May 2004, 18 arterial aneurysms were diagnosed in 16 Beh?et patients. All patients were male. The patients ranged in age from 24 to 52 years (mean, 37.4 +/- 5.2 years). There were six abdominal aortic, three common femoral, two iliac, two popliteal, two superficial femoral, and two anterior tibial aneurysms and one subclavian artery aneurysm. All patients but four were in remission at the time of diagnosis. Those 4 patients received immunosuppressive therapy before the surgical intervention to induce remission. After hospital discharge, all patients were followed up regularly at 3-month intervals. The mean duration of follow-up was 17 +/- 4.2 months (range, 6-24 months). RESULTS: All patients underwent a successful surgical intervention. During the study period, we performed five aortic tube graft interpositions, two aortofemoral bypasses, one aortobifemoral bypass, three common femoral artery graft interpositions, and two femoropopliteal bypasses. The popliteal artery (n = 2), anterior tibial artery (n = 2), and subclavian artery (n = 1) aneurysms were repaired primarily. There was no in-hospital mortality. One patient with an abdominal aortic aneurysm had to undergo reoperation because of postoperative bleeding. The postoperative hospital stay was 8.5 +/- 4.3 days. Two patients were lost to follow-up. During the follow-up period, two false aneurysms of the common femoral artery were repaired with a graft interposition procedure. Another patient who had undergone an aortic tube graft interposition was readmitted 9 months later with an external iliac artery aneurysm. The external iliac artery was ligated through a retroperitoneal approach, and femorofemoral bypass was performed. In addition, one femoropopliteal interposition graft was occluded, without disabling ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Although aneurysmal disease is rare in Beh?et disease, it can complicate the clinical picture and cause life-threatening complications. We believe that the establishment of remission before the surgical intervention decreases the incidence of postoperative complications. Because recurrence at the site of anastomosis is possible, prolonged monitoring is required.     

经股动脉带膜支架腔内搭桥治疗动脉瘤的初步应用

目的 探讨带膜支架腔内治疗动脉瘤的临床意义。方法 应用进口及自制带膜支架,在透视下经股动脉放置在动脉瘤的恰当位置上,实现动脉瘤的腔内搭桥。结果 ４例胸主动脉瘤,１例累及肾动脉、肠系膜上动脉及腹腔动脉的腹主动脉瘤及１例髂动脉瘤应用直筒状带膜支架;５例肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤应用分叉状带膜支架腔内治疗,即刻效果满意。随访３～１９个月,定期ＣＴ及ＭＲＡ检查。５例术后５～８ｄ出现延迟性发热。１例术后３个月发现有     

Femoral artery aneurysms: long-term follow-up and results of surgical treatment

Aneurysmal dilatation of the femoral artery is a rare condition of uncertain aetiology. Between January 1972 and December 1992, 31 atherosclerotic femoral aneurysms in 22 patients were seen. There were 21 men and 1 woman; mean(s.d.) age was 70.1(10.4) years. Thirteen (42%) femoral aneurysms (group 1) were isolated aneurysms, two being bilateral. Eighteen (58%) were associated with a non-contiguous abdominal aortic aneurysm, four being unilateral and seven bilateral femoral aneurysms (group 2). The mean(s.d.) size of these aneurysms was 4.7(1.5) and 3.5(0.7) cm in groups 1 and 2 respectively (P < 0.01). Of the limbs in group 1, 12 were treated by an interposition bypass. A ruptured profunda femoris artery aneurysm was ligated in one limb as an emergency operation. All patients in group 2 underwent an aortobifemoral graft. There was one operative death. Three early thromboses were observed; two autogenous saphenous vein interposition grafts and one limb of an aortobifemoral. One late thrombosis occurred in an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft in group 1. The five-year patency rate was 80% for group 1 and 88.9% for group 2 (P = n.s.). The overall 10-year limb salvage rate was 100%. These findings suggest that isolated femoral aneurysms are larger and more frequently symptomatic than femoral aneurysms associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The association between femoral aneurysm and abdominal aortic aneurysm was found to be higher in patients with bilateral femoral aneurysms compared with those with unilateral lesions (P < 0.05). In the treatment of isolated femoral aneurysms better early results were obtained with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene interposition grafts.     

Management of solitary iliac aneurysms.

Eleven patients with isolated iliac artery aneurysms, presenting over a 10 year period, have been reviewed. Ten patients underwent surgery, of whom 3 had ruptured their aneurysms. Four patients had a solitary aneurysm, while the remaining 6 had 14 aneurysms between them. There was no operative mortality but 2 patients died of late vascular complications (after 4 and 12 months), 1 after proximal ligation only of an internal iliac artery aneurysm, and 1 after proximal and distal ligation and bypass of the common/external iliac artery for an aneurysm involving both the common and internal iliac arteries. Five patients had internal iliac artery aneurysms, and in 4 of these distal control was not achieved. Four patients died from unrelated disease (after 2-6 years). Safe control of internal iliac artery aneurysms cannot be achieved without distal internal iliac control.     

Deep leg vein reconstruction for an isolated mycotic common iliac artery aneurysm in an HIV-positive patient

Isolated mycotic common iliac artery aneurysms are rare, and as such, there is no consensus opinion on management. Traditional surgical options include resection with extra-anatomic bypass, placement of allograft or antibiotic treated synthetic graft, or autogenous vein reconstruction. We report the case of a 46-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus-positive male who presented with a recurrent pneumonia and new onset of right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with right lower extremity swelling. computed tomographic scan revealed an isolated 9.5 cm right common iliac artery aneurysm with no evidence of rupture. Preoperative blood cultures grew out Streptococcus pneumoniae. Operative repair included aneurysm resection and reconstruction using an autogenous femoropopliteal vein interposition graft from the ipsilateral thigh. The patient had an uneventful recovery with resolution of his lower extremity swelling and a normal duplex exam at follow-up. Large mycotic common iliac artery aneurysms can be successfully treated with aneurysm resection and reconstruction using an autogenous femoropopliteal vein conduit. This technique obviates the need for extra-anatomic bypass or other forms of reconstruction using prosthetic material.     

Adverse consequences of internal iliac artery occlusion during endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: Embolization of the internal iliac artery (IIA) may be performed during endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair if aneurysmal disease of the common iliac artery precludes graft placement proximal to the IIA orifice. The IIA may also be unintentionally occluded because of iliac trauma or coverage by the endograft. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, etiology, and consequences of IIA occlusion during endoluminal AAA repair. METHODS: Over 2 years, 96 patients have undergone endoluminal AAA repair. The details of the operative procedure, reasons for IIA occlusion, perioperative complications, and clinical follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: The IIA was intentionally occluded in 15 patients (16%) to treat 13 common iliac artery aneurysms, one IIA aneurysm, and one external iliac artery aneurysm. The IIA was unintentionally occluded in 9 patients (9%), resulting from traumatic iliac dissection in 5 patients and coverage of the IIA by the endograft in the remaining 4 patients. Three patients had colon ischemia. One patient with a unilateral IIA occlusion had sigmoid infarction necessitating resection. The other two patients underwent intentional occlusion of one IIA followed by unintentional occlusion of the contralateral IIA because of a traumatic iliac dissection. Both had postoperative abdominal pain and distention; rectosigmoid ischemia was revealed through colonoscopy. Conservative treatment with bowel rest and broad-spectrum antibiotics was successful in both cases. Nondisabling hip and buttock claudication occurred in seven patients (32%) at 1 month but resolved by 6 months in three of these patients. CONCLUSION: Embolization of the IIA for iliac aneurysmal disease and unintentional IIA occlusion due to trauma or graft coverage occurs in a considerable number of patients undergoing endoluminal AAA repair. Most patients with unilateral occlusion do not experience colon ischemia or disabling claudication. Therefore, unilateral embolization of the IIA is well tolerated and allows for the endoluminal treatment of patients with both an AAA and an iliac artery aneurysm, thereby expanding the number of patients who can be managed with an endovascular approach. Although acute, bilateral IIA occlusions should be avoided, significant consequences were not observed in our small series of patients.     

Interposition grafting for reoperation on the common femoral artery

Purpose: This report details our experience with common femoral artery resection and Dacron interposition grafting in the management of vascular reoperations involving the common femoral artery. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: University teaching hospital. Subjects: Consecutive reoperative patients who had common femoral artery interposition grafting for arteriosclerotic occlusive disease from 1986 to 1997. Interventions: Common femoral artery resection and interposition grafting. Main outcome measures: Operative morbidity and mortality rates and long-term patency, limb salvage, patient survival, freedom-from-graft-infection, and freedom-from-reoperation rates. Results: Ninety-nine common femoral arteries (16 bilateral) were resected and replaced with Dacron interposition grafts in 83 patients (50 male, 33 female; mean age, 65 years) who had had 237 previous ipsilateral common femoral artery operations (mean, 2.4 operations; range, 1-9 operations). Simultaneous infrainguinal bypass grafts were performed in 52 operations (53%), and 60 operations (61%) were performed in patients who had had previous ipsilateral proximal bypass grafts. Operative mortality was 2%, with a 14% rate of perioperative wound complications. Mean follow-up time was 22 months. One- and 3-year assisted primary patency rates for the interposition grafts were 90% and 77%, respectively. Both 1- and 3-year life-table–determined limb salvage rates were 95%. One- and 3-year life-table–determined freedom-from-reoperation rates were 74% and 43%, respectively. One- and 3-year life-table–determined freedom-from-infection rates were 99% and 92%, respectively. One- and 3-year life-table–determined survival rates were 82% and 73%, respectively. Conclusions: Common femoral artery resection and Dacron interposition grafting are safe, and they obviate many difficulties associated with reoperative common femoral artery surgery with satisfactory long-term results. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:37-44)     

A novel hybrid approach to the treatment of common iliac aneurysms: antegrade endovascular hypogastric stent grafting and femorofemoral bypass grafting

A progressively enlarging left common iliac artery aneurysm developed in a 72-year-old man 7 years after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with a bifurcated Dacron graft. Because both the right hypogastric and inferior mesenteric arteries had been ligated at the initial operation, preservation of left hypogastric flow was critical to avoid pelvic or intestinal ischemia. He was a poor open surgical candidate owing to obesity, a hostile abdomen, and multiple medical comorbidities. Therefore, a novel hybrid approach was used consisting of left transbrachial selective left hypogastric artery catheterization, followed by deployment of two, overlapping, antegrade, covered stent grafts extending from the proximal left graft limb into the left hypogastric artery. A right-to-left femorofemoral crossover bypass was added to perfuse the left lower extremity and was performed in end-to-end fashion to the left common femoral artery to exclude and prevent retrograde flow into the iliac aneurysm. Also presented are potential procedural pitfalls and a detailed review of open, endovascular and hybrid options to preserve hypogastric flow when treating iliac aneurysms in complex, high-risk patients.     

Isolated rupture of an iliacus aneurysm

A retrospective analysis of 23 patients with isolated iliac aneurysms is presented. The age of the 23 men ranged from 49 to 89 years (mean +/- SE: 72.2 +/- 8.4 y). All patients had pain, nineteen (83%) were in shock, in only 11 (48%) an abdominal mass was palpable. Fifteen (65%) of the aneurysms were located in the common iliac artery, 5 (22%) in the internal and 3 (13%) in the external iliac artery. Their diameter ranged from 3 to 12 cm (mean +/- SE: 7.8 +/- 2.6 cm). Resection with an unilateral graft interposition was done in 12 (52%), a Y-graft implanted in 8 (35%) and an endoaneurysmorrhaphy of the internal aneurysm performed in 2 patients. Early mortality was 22% and was not statistically different from the 28.6% mortality in ruptured abdominal aneurysm resections performed in the same time. Because of the substantial risk of rupture with high mortality elective operative intervention should be considered for isolated iliac aneurysms with a diameter more than 3 cm.     

Vein compression by arterial aneurysms

This study was done to emphasize the importance of early, accurate diagnosis of arterial aneurysms that show the symptoms of venous obstruction. Fourteen patients were identified as having atherosclerotic aneurysms producing venous compression. Nine patients had popliteal aneurysms, causing popliteal vein thrombosis in three patients and vein compression without thrombosis in six patients. Five patients had iliac artery aneurysms, producing left iliac vein thrombosis in one patient and venous compression without thrombosis in four patients. In 10 patients the cause of the venous compression symptoms was correctly identified and appropriate revascularization was performed with successful results. In four patients, two with iliac artery aneurysms and two with popliteal artery aneurysms, the associated aneurysm was not identified. One patient died of a ruptured aneurysm and three patients had below-knee amputations because of untreatable distal ischemia. Inappropriate treatment of patients with venous obstruction from unrecognized arterial aneurysms is associated with unacceptable morbidity and mortality. Accurate diagnosis with timely aneurysm repair eliminates the risk of aneurysm rupture or thrombosis and simultaneously alleviates venous compression symptoms.