What is an iliac ultrasound?
An Abdominal Aortic-Iliac Duplex is an ultrasound test that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to evaluate the aorta, the main artery in the abdomen, and other arteries that deliver blood to the major organs in the body.
What does the iliac artery do?
The iliac arteries carry blood to the lower extremities, including the legs, reproductive organs and pelvic region. You have two iliac arteries: one on the right side of the body (called the right common iliac artery) and one on the left (called the left common iliac artery).
How is iliac artery aneurysm diagnosed?
Your doctor may discover an aortoiliac aneurysm or common iliac artery aneurysm during a routine physical exam. Your doctor may feel a bulge or pulsation (throbbing) in your abdomen. Aneurysms may be found during a medical test such as a CT Scan (also known as Computed Tomography or CAT Scan) or ultrasound.
Where is the iliac vein?
from the legs, the common iliac veins, at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra, just below the small of the back. Unlike the superior vena cava, it has a substantial number of tributaries between its point of origin and its terminus at the heart.
What causes iliac artery stenosis?
Iliac artery disease is caused by the narrowing of the arteries leading to the legs. This narrowing can also be called a stenosis. It is usually caused by a buildup of fat or calcium deposits called plaque. Over time, this plaque can build to a total blockage of the artery.
How is iliac stenosis treated?
Treatment options range from a) conservative management including exercise therapy, life-style changes, and antiplatelet therapy, to b) minimally invasive endovascular treatment, i.e. percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), with or without stent placement, supported by antiplatelet therapy [4–6].
How do you unblock the iliac artery?
Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon to open blocked arteries. The balloon is inflated and deflated several times to press the plaque against the artery wall. Once the artery has been unblocked, the balloon is deflated and removed. Blood can flow freely through the widened artery.
How fast do iliac aneurysms grow?
McCready et al1 observed a growth rate of 4 mm/y and recommended repair when they reached 3 cm in size. Santilli et al4 studied the rate of growth of isolated IAAs, mostly CIAAs. IAAs <3. cm in size expanded at an average rate of 1.1 mm/y, whereas those >3 cm expanded by 2.6 mm/y.