Recanalization of the iliac veins and inferior vena cava was performed for the first time in Tajikistan

The State Institution "Republican Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery" of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan successfully performed the first recanalization of both iliac veins in the country, including balloon angioplasty and stenting of the iliac veins and inferior vena cava. This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan.

According to Dzhamshed Karimovich Rakhmonov, a specialist at the center and a candidate of medical sciences who performed the surgery together with his colleagues, the 68-year-old patient presented to the facility complaining of swelling in his lower extremities, subcutaneous veins in his legs, anterior abdomen, and groin, as well as mild shortness of breath. The patient explained that he had suffered deep vein thrombosis in his lower extremities four years earlier.

After examination and necessary diagnostic tests of the pulmonary arteries and phlebography of the lower extremities, occult signs of pulmonary embolism were identified. Furthermore, the patient was diagnosed with stenosis of the infrarenal inferior vena cava and complete occlusion of the iliac veins on both sides. Despite repeated courses of conservative therapy, the treatment effect was only temporary. Therefore, the patient underwent coronary angiography and phlebography of the lower extremities.

Based on the examination results, the patient was scheduled for hospitalization in the Department of Endovascular Surgery at the Republican Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery. After several days of preparation, he underwent surgery under local anesthesia. This included a puncture of the right internal jugular vein and a puncture of the common femoral vein on both sides. Simultaneously, bilateral iliac vein recanalization was performed, along with angioplasty of the inferior vena cava and iliac veins.

Following this, the patient underwent stenting of the inferior vena cava and iliac veins with self-expanding stents under angiographic guidance. Follow-up angiography revealed complete restoration of the venous lumen, with residual stenosis of 0%.