OBJETIVE: To discuss clinical aspects and surgical treatment of a series of cases of isolated iliac artery aneurysms. METHODS: Protocol data and medical charts of 12 patients with diagnosis of isolated iliac artery aneurysm were retrospectively analyzed. The patients underwent surgery at the Department of Surgery of Santa Casa de São Paulo, from November 1999 to February 2003. RESULTS: Frequency of isolated iliac artery aneurysm was 1.5% of abdominal aneurysms who underwent surgery in the period under investigation. Age group ranged between 56-80 years, 33% of patients presented bilateral aneurysm, and aneurysm diameters ranged between 2.0-8.5 cm. In 83% of cases, the patients were symptomatic during treatment. Aneurysms were not ruptured in any case. Extraperitoneal approach ipsilateral to the dilatation was used in unilateral aneurysms, and transperitoneal approach, longitudinal or transverse, in bilateral aneurysms. We did not dissect the posterior segment of the iliac arteries for clamping, in order to avoid intraoperative venous lesion. There were no deaths during the surgery. In all cases, we preserved at least one internal iliac artery. CONCLUSION: Approach to isolated iliac artery aneurysms should be chosen on an individual basis. Preserving at least one internal iliac artery is a rule to be observed. Circumferential dissection of iliac arteries during the surgery should be avoided.
Aneurysm; iliac artery; isolated; treatment; surgery
