Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome: 4 Case

Moon, Suk Il; Kim, Yong Gui; Moon, In Sung; Park, Jang Sang; Koh, Yong Bok

Abstract

Iliac vein compression syndrome is a rare clinical condition in which left common iliac vein is anatomically compressed between right common iliac artery and the fifth lumbar vertebrae or pelvic brim. Patients usually have marked edema of the left leg. Although the actual incidence is unknown, this syndrome most affects women in the second to fourth decade of life. We report 4 cases of iliac compression syndrome treated by surgical intervention during the last fifteen-year period. Among them, two women have suffered from chronic intermittent swelling and pain of left leg, and two men had acute or subacute symptoms. The fibrous web in the entrance of left iliac vein into vena cava existed in one case. Including this one, two were treated by transposition of iliac artery or vein with thrombectomy. One was decompressed the arterial compression by mobilization or adhesiolysis of the surrounding vessles with thrombectomy. To the last one in which the distal common iliac vein was compressed by tortous dilated left internal iliac artery, transsection and ligation of the internal iliac artery was performed. All patients have experienced improved left leg condition after operation. except the last one in which suffered from thrombosis of left popliteal vein after the iliac decompression.