HCM City hospital uses stents to treat May-Thurner syndrome

HCM CITY— The HCM City University Medical Centre has treated 20 people with May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) by using endovascular procedure.

After adopting endovenous stenting in 2015, the centre remains the only hospital in the country to treat MTS using this technique, Dr Lê Thanh Phong, a surgeon at its thoracic and vascular department, said.

No procedure-related mortality or major complication has occurred so far, he said.

The syndrome, also known as iliac vein compression syndrome and Cockett’s syndrome, is caused by an anatomical anomaly in which the left common iliac vein is compressed by the overlying right common iliac artery.

It mostly affects women aged 20-50 and is common among patients with symptomatic left iliofemoral deep venous obstruction.

MTS patients suffer from left lower extremity pain and swelling.

Because of the mechanical nature of the obstruction, patients respond poorly to non-surgical treatment.

Endovascular procedure has shown promising results, with improvement in or resolution of lower extremity swelling and pain, he said. —VNS