Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Venous aneurysms are a rare entity in vascular surgery, which are mostly described in individual case series and meta-analyses generated from them. The treatment concepts are diverse and surgical treatment is highlighted due to the risk of thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. There is still an ongoing debate regarding the postoperative necessity and duration of anticoagulation. METHOD: Case series of a consecutive patient cohort with venous aneurysms from the last 18 years in a center of (highly specialized care) vascular surgery including i) own experiences obtained in daily vascular surgical practice and ii) a selected and current literature search of relevant references on possible and, in particular, established diagnosis-specific therapeutic concepts. RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2023, a total of 11 cases of venous aneurysms were reported in patients aged 30-84 years (mean: 52.5, median: 50), with 1 patient requiring surgery for a recurrence after 2 years. The gender ratio was 7:3 (m:f) and the popliteal vein was the most frequently affected anatomical region with 36.4%, followed by the internal jugular vein and axillary/subclavian vein each with 18.2%. Aneurysms of the inferior vena cava, the common iliac vein and the cubital vein occurred only once. Surgical treatment of the aneurysms was performed in 9 cases. The surgical methods used were i) tangential resection of the aneurysm wall and continuous purse-string suture, ii) resection of the aneurysm and interposition of an 8‑mm GORE-TEX® vascular graft prosthesis (Gore, Putzbrunn, Germany), iii) ligation of the aneurysm and iv) ligation with subsequent resection of the aneurysm. CONCLUSION: The rarity of venous aneurysms should be a reason to register these cases centrally (possibly, nationwide diagnosis-related register). Surgical treatment is usually unproblematic and associated with few complications. The risk of pulmonary embolism appears to be significantly increased in venous aneurysms of the extremities, pelvic veins and inferior vena cava, while venous aneurysms of the head and neck are significantly less prone to this. Perioperative and postoperative anticoagulation has been adapted to the development of specific anticoagulants and novel drugs, in favor of treatment with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). In personal experience, immediate postoperative heparin perfusion (low dose) and subsequent therapeutic bridging with low-molecular-weight heparin before switching to an anticoagulant for outpatient clinic-based care appears to safeguard the perioperative phase with respect to keeping the surgery-related complication rate (e.g., thrombosis, bleeding) low.