title: Atheroembolization: a harmful complication of therapeutic internal iliac artery occlusion.
abstract: Coil embolization of the internal iliac artery (IIA) for proper endovascular treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms is a procedure with an acceptable morbidity rate consisting of buttock claudication in 12% to 55% and erectile dysfunction in 1% to 13%. Atheroembolic complications in this context are not yet reported. We present a case with gangrene of the prepuce and focal cutaneous necrosis of the ipsilateral buttock and foot after coil embolization of one IIA. Multiple atheroemboli were found with the histopathologic examination of the excised prepuce. Atheroembolization is a rare complication of therapeutic IIA occlusion, and the ischemic sequels can be severe because of the coincidence of atheroembolization and occlusion of the main supplying artery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perruchoud
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicky
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillou
authors.forename: Ludwig Karl
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Von Segesser
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D002081:Buttocks / Q000473:pathology; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017543:Iliac Aneurysm / Q000628:therapy*; D007083:Iliac Artery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology