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Background There have been well-documented implications of race/ethnicity on the outcome of various vascular diseases. Little literature has examined the effect of race/ethnicity on venous disease. Iliac vein stenting is an emerging technology in treating chronic venous insufficiency. To further characterize this disease and its treatment, we chose to study the effect of selected clinical factors including race/ethnicity on the early complications of non-thrombotic iliac vein stenting. Methods In this observational study, data analysis was performed for 623 patients with chronic venous insufficiency who underwent iliac vein stenting during the time period from August 2012 to September 2014. Patients were categorized by Caucasians ( n = 396), African Americans ( n = 89), Hispanics ( n = 138), and others ( n = 23). These were correlated with the age, gender, presenting sign according to CEAP classification, percentage of iliac vein stenosis, post-operative thrombosis and pain score. Pain score was obtained post-operatively on a Likert scale of 0-10. Follow-up was performed after completion of the procedure, through post-operative visits and duplex exams every three months for the first year. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and Student's t-test, Pearson's test and multivariate regression. Results The average age of the study patients was 67.8 years (age range 23-96 years, +/- 14.2 SD). Sixty-seven patients were women. The presenting sign according to CEAP classification was (C3 = 331, C4 = 175, C5 = 51, C6 = 66). The average pain score was 2.6 (+/-2.9 SD). The average degree of stenosis was 64.9% (+/-3.8 SD). There were insufficient numbers in the "other" race/ethnicity group for further analysis. The number of patients with iliac vein stent thrombosis was 14 (2.2%). When analyzing each race/ethnicity in our dataset with univariate analysis, we found that Caucasians were significantly older than the African Americans and Hispanics ( P < 0.0001). There tended to be more women in the Caucasian group as compared to the Hispanics ( P = 0.04). There were no differences in presenting sign according to CEAP classification or degree of stenosis between the three groups. Hispanics tended to have higher pain scores post-operatively than Caucasians ( P = 0.01). It was found that 1.8% of Caucasians, 3.4% of African Americans and 2.9% of Hispanics had post-operative iliac vein stent thrombosis ( P = 0.55). Men have higher CEAP score than women regardless of race/ethnicity ( P = 0.0001). On the other hand, women tended to have higher pain score than men ( P = 0.04). There were no differences between men and women regarding age, degree of stenosis, and stent thrombosis. Linear multivariate regression test and Pearson's test revealed that age is inversely related to pain score ( P < 0.0001). ANOVA multivariate regression statistical analysis showed no relation between race/ethnicity and pain score ( P = 0.98), and one-way ANOVA showed that the Caucasians were the eldest ethnic group in the study ( P < 0.0001). Linear multivariate regression test and Pearson's correlation test revealed that race/ethnicity is not correlated with thrombosis of iliac vein after stenting ( P = 0.8). Conclusion Race/ethnicity is not significantly associated with CEAP score, degree of iliac vein stenosis, or post-operative thrombosis or pain scores. Age was inversely associated with pain score after iliac vein stenting.

Background Ureteral arterial fistulas are rare but potentially life threatening. We present a female who developed a ureteral arterial fistula following a right robotic nephrectomy. After several endovascular interventions to control the bleeding had failed, we approached the fistula through the right ureteral stump with coil embolization. Methods Coil embolization of the right ureteral stump was performed. We utilized a 6Fr × 45 cm sheath inserted through one of the cystoscope channels to cannulate the right ureteral orifice. We then performed a retrograde ureterogram. After, we were able to visualize full length of the ureter, ahd we began placing several 10-12 mm Nester coils to pack the ureter and tamponade the fistula for hemostasis. After the ureter was packed, we injected 1 g of Vancomycin into the ureter. The sheath and cytoscope were removed and the patient did well and was sent to the recovery room. Results Postoperatively, the patient had no complaints of hematuria and her hemoglobin level remained unchanged. She was observed for a few days prior to being discharged to home. The patient's follow-up at six months revealed resolution of her hematuria. Conclusion Ureteral arterial fistula is a potentially life-threatening condition. Endovascular stenting has provided a safe, reliable alternative to open surgery. However, when endovascular options are not satisfactory, coil embolization of the ureteral stump may serve as a safe and effective alternative treatment for these cases.

Objective Treatment of non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions is an active area of research. Intravascular ultrasound allows its localization. We chose intravascular ultrasound to clarify the exact anatomical location of non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions and correlate it with clinical findings. Materials and methods Over seven months, we performed ilio-femoral intravascular ultrasound studies on 217 patients, in 141 women and 76 men. The average age +/- standard deviation was 68 +/- 14 years. We used intravascular ultrasound intraoperatively to measure the ilio-femoral veins and compared it with adjacent non-stenotic ilio-femoral veins. If more than 50% area or diameter reduction was found, it was treated with appropriate balloon and stent. Results We identified 244 lesions, 124 in left lower extremity and 120 in the right lower extremity. The most common site was the proximal common iliac vein 38.7% (22.5% females and 16.12% males) in left lower extremity and middle external iliac vein 29.16% (18.33% females and 10.83% males) in right lower extremity. The least common site was the distal external iliac vein in 3.2% (all 3.2% females) and the distal external iliac vein 7.5% (5% females and 2.5% males) in right lower extremity. Clinical correlation was noted between laterality and location of the NIVL lesion ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion This analysis gives an insight into understanding the exact anatomical locations of the non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions helping clinicians and researchers guide their treatment and research.