Fourth Time Redo Common Femoral Vein Reconstruction with a Novel Hybrid Technique

Iliofemoral vein thrombosis can lead to debilitating edema and venous claudication that significantly worsens quality of life, especially in young active individuals. Venous reconstruction becomes increasingly complex and has worsening patency with subsequent revisions so preoperative planning is critical to success.

We report a case of a 54-year-old man in active military service with profoundly symptomatic leg swelling after failure of 3 previous common femoral vein (CFV) reconstructions. The CFV and distal external iliac vein were thrombosed up to a few centimeters above the inguinal ligament. Direct proximal control would have required a retroperitoneal or transabdominal incision. However, a hybrid approach utilizing through-wire access, remote balloon control of the external iliac vein, cryopreserved vein graft, stent graft, and arteriovenous fistula was able to address the factors (graft size, external compression, adequate flow) contributing to his previous graft failures with a novel, less invasive approach.

At 1-year follow-up, he was asymptomatic and the graft remained patent with normal vascular duplex studies. His leg swelling subsided and he was able to return to his previous physical activity level.

A hybrid approach to complex venous reconstruction can provide a minimally invasive and durable alternative to more invasive procedures and alleviate mechanical causes of early graft failure.