Iliac Vein Compression

Iliac Vein Compression. A Silent Menace

Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome (IVCS)– also known as May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) – occurs when the left iliac vein is compressed by the right iliac artery, increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the left leg. Iliac veins can be compressed on the right side as well, or even both sides.

Patients with IVCS can present with acute (sudden) or chronic (long term) swelling, skin reddening or thickening, leg ulcers, or can have no symptoms whatsoever. Until recently, most patients with IVCS were never diagnosed unless they happened to also have a DVT.  For this reason, it’s critical that a patient experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above be evaluated by a physician specializing in the treatment of vascular diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment is paramount in order to avoid complications such as DVT or chronic venous insufficiency in the leg(s).

At Vivid Vascular, our treatment goal with Iliac Vein Compression is to reduce symptoms associated with IVCS, while causing minimal disruption to the patients’ lifestyle and routine.

Symptoms of Iliac Vein Compression

The symptoms of Iliac Vein Compression or IVC can vary widely, these include:

• • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Tenderness in the leg
  • Skin redness or discoloration
  • A feeling of increased warmth in the leg
  • Increased vein size
  • Varicose vein recurrence after EVLT treatments.

Treating and Diagnosing Iliac Vein Compression Using IVUS

IVUS or Intravascular Ultrasound is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that allows us to evaluate a part of the iliac vein that has been hard to assess with non-invasive imaging, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound.

The procedure requires no incisions and patients do not need to be sedated.

Using mild sedation, through a small puncture, a stent is placed at the site of compression. This is done using a specially designed ultrasound catheter that is guided to where we can acquire images of the compressed or obstructed vessels.