Treatment of common iliac vein aneurysms: case report and literature review

In this study we report on a patient with a left common iliac vein aneurysm; a condition rarely seen in vascular surgery. A 49-year-old man with no history of trauma or surgery underwent computed tomography (CT) for the evaluation of lumbago. A subsequent 64-slice CT angiogram revealed a left common iliac vein aneurysm. Surgery was performed due to the possibility of rupture. The aneurysm was successfully treated with clipping and sutures and a pre-discharge CT showed the aneurysm had shrunk. We combine our experience treating this patient with a review of the characteristics of other reported cases and methods used to treat iliac vein aneurysms. A definitive diagnosis is recommended in patients in whom an iliac vein aneurysm is suspected, with a CT angiogram being a dependable diagnostic method. There is still no unified standard for the treatment of aneurysms. Conservative treatment can be chosen for some small aneurysms in early stage, but close follow-up is needed. Surgical treatment is still recommended for some large aneurysms. Because we know that if an aneurysm ruptures, it can be life-threatening. If appropriate artificial blood vessels or coated stents are available, aneurysms resection combined with artificial blood vessel reconstruction or directly coated stents are good choices for aneurysms isolation. For some very large aneurysms, I personally think that lateral wall resection and suture of our aneurysms is also a method. Early follow-up results also proved that the method was effective. Surgery should be performed as early as possible. Our method of surgery may be used as a selective surgical method if the aneurysm is large or saccular in morphology.