Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease

Excerpt

Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD), is a variant of peripheral artery disease (PAD) that affects the infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries, obstructing blood flow to distal organs through narrowed arterial lumens or embolization of plaques. Like other arterial diseases, this condition can present a wide range of symptoms, from asymptomatic cases to limb-threatening emergencies. For many patients, collateral circulation can be sufficient to manage symptoms nonoperatively. However, obstructive lesions are commonly found in the infrarenal aorta, common iliac artery, internal iliac (hypogastric) artery, external iliac artery, or combinations of these vessels.

Recognizing the numerous risk factors for AIOD allows clinicians to implement medical therapies that alleviate symptoms and extend patient survival. The advent of prosthetic graft materials in the 1960s revolutionized the surgical treatment of AIOD, offering a viable solution for patients with significant aortic and iliac occlusions. This review will examine the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and contemporary management options, focusing on surgical and endovascular interventions to improve outcomes in patients with AIOD.