What is May-Thurner anatomy?
May-Thurner syndrome is a rarely diagnosed condition in which patients develop iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) due to an anatomical variant in which the right common iliac artery overlies and compresses the left common iliac vein against the lumbar spine.
Is May-Thurner syndrome a blood clotting disorder?
May-Thurner syndrome is a rare vascular disorder in which an artery compresses a vein in your pelvis. This compression can cause symptoms in your left or right leg and foot and may lead to blood clots.
Where is the stent placement for May-Thurner syndrome?
A majority of women diagnosed with May-Thurner Syndrome will undergo a minimally invasive procedure to place a stent in the compressed iliac vein.
Does May-Thurner syndrome affect the heart?
May-Thurner syndrome is a serious condition that causes the left iliac vein in your pelvis to narrow, due to pressure from the right iliac artery. The left iliac vein is the largest in your left leg and carries blood back to your heart.
What is May-Thurner?
May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is caused when the left iliac vein is compressed by the right iliac artery, which increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the left extremity. DVT is a blood clot that may partially or completely block blood flow through the vein.
When should you suspect may-Thurner syndrome?
When the left leg is swollen and is much larger than the right, doctors often suspect May-Thurner Syndrome. This can also increase the risk of a clot forming in the deep veins of the left leg, or a deep vein thrombosis (DVT); which occurs when stationary blood begins to clot.
Are you born with May-Thurner syndrome?
May-Thurner syndrome is random. It isn’t something in your genes that you get from your parents. The crossover of those blood vessels is normal. But in some cases, they are positioned in a way that the right iliac artery presses the left iliac vein against the spine.
How do you fix May-Thurner syndrome?
Management and Treatment
- Anticoagulation. Your physician may prescribe blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots.
- Catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy. This is a nonsurgical treatment that uses clot-dissolving medications, referred to as thrombolytics, to dissolve blood clots.
- Angioplasty and stenting.
Can May-Thurner syndrome cause hip pain?
Pain, heaviness, aching, restlessness, throbbing, varicose veins, leg swelling, leg discoloration or inflammation and leg ulcers. Pelvic, hip and back pain can be present.
Can May-Thurner syndrome cause shortness of breath?
If you have a Pulmonary Embolism or PE (lung clot), you may experience: Hard to breath or shortness of breath. Chest pain – especially when trying to breathe.
How do you know if you have may-Thurner?
Most people do not know they have MTS, but it is identified when they present with a DVT. Patients should seek treatment for symptoms, including swelling, pain or tenderness in the leg, feeling of increased warmth in the leg, redness or discoloration of the skin, or enlargement of the veins in the leg.
Is May-Thurner rare?
May-Thurner Syndrome is a rare condition that most people don’t know they have until they get a blood clot. MTS is more commonly diagnosed in young women. It is 3 times more likely to occur in women as men. But, it does occur in men too.
Where does blood flow in May Thurner syndrome?
In May-Thurner syndrome, the right iliac artery squeezes the left iliac vein when they cross each other in your pelvis. Because of that pressure, blood can’t flow as freely through the left iliac vein.
What are the side effects of May Thurner syndrome?
May-Thurner syndrome complications. Some people with May-Thurner syndrome have no symptoms, but over time, this condition can lead to: Leg swelling. Chronic venous insufficiency, in which blood pools in your veins. This causes swelling, pressure, skin changes, and venous ulcers or sores that don’t heal.
How is a stent used for May Thurner syndrome?
Angioplasty and a stent. This is a common treatment for May-Thurner syndrome. First, your doctor uses a small balloon to expand the left iliac vein. Then, you get a device called a stent.
How does a doctor diagnose May Thurner syndrome?
To diagnose May-Thurner syndrome, your doctor will: Perform a physical exam. Ask about your medical history and symptoms. Use an imaging test — like an ultrasound, MRI, or venogram — to confirm your diagnosis.
