Ever heard of the obturator vein?

✍ Scribed by Stephen C. Brown; Marc Gewillig

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 133 KB
• Volume: 75
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1522-1946
• DOI: 10.1002/ccd.22276

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

We report a complication related to advancement of a large diameter long sheath in the obturator vein. In an adult with a previously thrombosed femoral vein, the obturator vein was inadvertently cannulated. During percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation, the Ensemble® delivery system could not be advanced after repositioning attempt. The obturator vein had been perforated and sheath was coiled up in the pelvis leading to a retroperitoneal pelvic hematoma. Continuity of the vein was established using two self‐expanding covered stents. The obturator vein runs dorsally and joins the inferior caval vein at a very acute angle posterior in the pelvis, creating a corner in which stiff catheters or sheaths may get entrapped. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.