Isolated iliac artery aneurysm and its management.

The records of 16 patients with 44 aneurysms of the iliac artery during a 12-year period (1981 to 1992) were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age was 71.2 (range 53-81) years; the male/female ratio was 7:1. An extremely high incidence of isolated iliac artery aneurysm was noted relative to abdominal aortic aneurysm (11.7%) during the same period. Aneurysms ranged in size from 2 to 12 cm. Rupture occurred in four patients (25%). Six patients presented urologic complications of ureteral stenosis, with hydronephrosis caused by perianeurysmal fibrosis in five. Thirteen patients underwent surgical treatment with emergency operation performed in four with rupture and one with impending rupture. The mortality rate for ruptured aneurysm was high (50%). The operative procedures for common iliac aneurysms were open resection in 18, aneurysmectomy in two, and thromboexclusion in three. For internal iliac aneurysms, the procedures were aneurysmorrhaphy (partial resection) in five, obliterative endoaneurysmorrhaphy in seven, aneurysmectomy in two, and thromboexclusion in two, with appropriate graft replacement. Endarterectomy and reimplantation of the inferior mesenteric artery, and internal iliac artery graft interposition were performed to prevent colon ischaemia in three and two patients, respectively. Ureterolysis was performed in three patients with ureteral stenosis caused by perianeurysmal fibrosis, which improved hydronephrosis and renal function in two. Early diagnosis and elective surgery before rupture is the treatment of choice for saving the patient's life. The importance of preventing colon ischaemia for bilateral internal iliac aneurysms and ureterolysis for ureter entrapped within perianeurysmal fibrosis is emphasized.