Isolated iliac artery aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE

To assess our experience with isolated iliac artery aneurysms and to assess the blood transfusion requirement in patients undergoing surgery for iliac artery aneurysms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The case records of 12 patients who underwent 12 arterial reconstructive procedures for isolated iliac aneurysms from January 1989 to December 1995 were identified from our prospective vascular database and reviewed. Only patients with aneurysms limited to the common, external, or internal iliac arteries were included.

RESULTS

Eleven patients had symptoms and rupture occurred in five patients. Aneurysmorrhaphy with graft interposition was the most common procedure. There was no perioperative mortality. The median transfusion requirement was 11 units per operation (range 1-30 units). The median intraoperative blood loss was 4700 ml (range < 500-13,000 ml).

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated iliac aneurysm is a dangerous condition. A low perioperative mortality is possible only if large volumes of blood are available.