External Iliac Arteriopathy
UVA Surgeon Among Few Treating Rare Disorder
UVA vascular surgeon Kenneth Cherry, MD, is one of the only surgeons in the U.S. experienced in treating patients with external iliac arteriopathy, a potentially serious disorder usually found in athletes, especially high-performance cyclists.
When these cyclists bend down over the handlebars as they go uphill or sprint, the hip flexion also causes flexion of the external iliac artery. Together with the increased heart output from intense exercise, that flexion puts additional stress on the wall of the external iliac artery. Additionally, the external iliac artery is prevented from moving during exercise by its origin in the pelvis and the athlete’s taut inguinal ligament. All of those factors can combine to cause the external iliac artery to narrow or become blocked.
Depending on the extent of the artery’s narrowing or blockage, Cherry utilizes one of two surgical treatments. For localized narrowing, Cherry performs a synthetic patch angioplasty, using a Dacron® synthetic patch to open up the narrowed area. For cases where the narrowing is more extensive or severe, Cherry replaces the external iliac and common femoral arteries with a Dacron graft. The inguinal ligament is also released where it crosses the femoral artery.
To make it easier to diagnose cyclists who may have external iliac arteriopathy in UVA’s vascular lab, a high-performance stationary bike was recently donated to UVA by Saris Cycling Group.
“Now, all cyclists have to do is bring their shoes, pedals and a change of clothes,” Cherry says.
To refer a patient for treatment of external iliac arteriopathy, call UVA Physician Direct at 800.552.3723.