May-Thurner Syndrome Treatment

May-Thurner Syndrome Treatment Using IVUS Intravascular Ultrasound, Stenting & Balloon Angioplasty

May-Thurner Syndrome, also known as Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome, is an anatomical variant that affects 20-30% of people in the United States.

To most accurately diagnose and precisely treat May-Thurner Syndrome, Intravascular Ultrasound technology must be used because Intravascular Ultrasound allows vascular surgeons to identify the exact location of iliac vein compression.

Iliac Vein Compression

Iliac Vein Compression happens when the iliac veins located in the pelvic area become compressed by the iliac arteries against the spine.

With each heart beat, the iliac arteries pound against the iliac veins. This constant pounding eventually causes the iliac veins to become compressed, resulting in restriction of blood flow through the iliac veins.

This restriction of blood flow through the iliac veins prevents the blood from flowing freely upwards from the legs towards the heart. As a result, blood pools in the legs and becomes stagnant.

Iliac Vein Compression Symptoms

Stagnant blood in the legs leads to symptoms such as leg swelling, chronic leg pain, varicose veins, blood clots, chronic venous insufficiency, one leg larger than the other, and leg ulcers that do not heal.

Due to the lack of sensitivity of CT scans and venography to capture images of the deep veins in the pelvic area, discovering iliac vein compression can be a challenge for vascular surgeons. As a result, 30-50% of May-Thurner Syndrome diagnoses are inaccurate.

May-Thurner Syndrome Diagnosis

To more accurately diagnose and more precisely treat iliac vein compression (May-Thurner Syndrome), our Board Certified Vascular Surgeons use IVUS Intravascular Ultrasound technology.

During Intravascular Ultrasound our vascular surgeons insert a small ultrasonic probe directly into the iliac veins. This probe transmits an ultrasound image, mapping out every detail within the iliac veins, including the exact location of iliac vein compression. This intravascular ultrasound imaging allows our vascular surgeons to make a 100% accurate diagnosis.

May-Thurner Syndrome Treatment

Once iliac vein compression (May-Thurner Syndrome) is diagnosed, our vascular surgeons use stenting and balloon angioplasty to widen the compressed section of the iliac vein. The IVUS Intravascular Ultrasound probe is used again to make sure that the stent is correctly positioned within the iliac vein and to make sure that the iliac vein has been widely opened to allow maximum blood flow.

After the blood flow through the iliac veins has been restored, blood will no longer pool in the legs and the symptoms related to May-Thurner Syndrome will start to go away.

If you are suffering from May-Thurner Syndrome (Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome), or if you are experiencing symptoms, such as leg swelling, chronic leg pain, varicose veins, one leg larger than the other, or leg ulcers that do not heal, our vascular surgeons can help restore blood flow in your legs and free you from your symptoms.

To see if you are a candidate for the IVUS Intravascular Ultrasound procedure, you can schedule a vascular consultation with one of our vascular surgeons at The Vein and Vascular Institute of Spring Hill by calling (352) 505-1737.