Iliac vein compression syndrome: literature review

• Main Authors: Leonardo Pessoa Cavalcante, José Emerson dos Santos Souza, Raquel Magalhães Pereira, Marcos Velludo Bernardes, Alan Maurice da Silva Amanajás, Marcos Henrique Parisati, Ricardo Dias da Rocha, Antônio Oliveira de Araújo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e de Cirurgia Vascular (SBACV) 2015-03-01
• Series: Jornal Vascular Brasileiro
• Subjects: Síndrome de May-Thurner; artéria ilíaca; veia ilíaca; insuficiência venosa; flebografia; angioplastia
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-54492015000100078&lng=en&tlng=en

Iliac vein compression syndrome is a clinical condition in which the right common iliac artery extrinsically compresses the left common iliac vein. The syndrome predominantly affects young women between their 2nd and 4th decades of life. In view of the syndrome's potential complications, it should be recognized/diagnosed and treated in symptomatic patients before it causes irreversible damage to patients' venous systems. Noninvasive methods, such as venous color Doppler US are reasonable screening methods, but angiotomography and magnetic resonance angiography are more reliable diagnostic tools and the method of choice for confirmation of diagnosis remains multi-plane phlebography with measurement of pressure gradients. Endovascular treatment (angioplasty with placement of self-expanding stents) is safe and effective and can replace open surgical reconstruction and/or anticoagulation alone.