Methods Of Treating May-Thurner Syndrome

Blood Thinners

Blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, are another way to treat a patient with May-Thurner syndrome. Blood thinners work by reducing the body’s production of thromboxane, a chemical that causes blood platelets to stick together. They also inhibit other compounds that cause the blood to clot including vitamin K. The body can’t form blood clots without this vitamin, so these types of anticoagulants are called coumarins or vitamin K antagonists. They are especially helpful for individuals in danger of developing a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Sometimes, the doctor introduces the medication surgically, in a method called catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy. The doctor puts the medication directly into the blood clot via a catheter, causing the clot to dissolve. This therapy is often used along with angioplasty.

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Right Iliac Artery Repositioning

Some doctors recommend May-Thurner syndrome be treated aggressively to remove the risk of blood clots. One way to do this is through right iliac artery repositioning, a surgery in which the doctor creates a sling made out of tissue to raise the right iliac artery, and put some space between it and the artery compressing it. Surgeons can also move the right iliac artery to just behind the left iliac vein to take the pressure off of it the way a tissue sling does. Some surgeons perform what is called a Palma crossover. This is a type of bypass surgery where a part of the patient’s saphenous vein is used to reroute the blood from around the affected part of the left iliac vein. The saphenous vein is a large vein found in the leg.

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