A large unilateral persistent sciatic vein: a case report

A large unilateral persistent sciatic vein: a case report

Persistent sciatic vein is considered a relatively rare anatomical finding, commonly associated with the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. We report a case of a large unilateral persistent sciatic vein in the right lower limb of an adult male cadaver, identified during routine dissection. The size of the vein was comparable to the sciatic nerve and it was originated from the union of posterior tibial veins at the distal end of the popliteal fossa. It was ascending in the posterior part of the thigh, medial to the sciatic nerve, before coursing through the infrapiriform foramen of the greater sciatic foramen and terminating by draining into the internal iliac vein. Further dissection revealed conventional anatomy of the femoral venous system. The epidemiology, anatomy, diagnosis and management a persistent sciatic vein are also discussed.

___

  • 1. Caggiati A, Bergan JJ, Gloviczki P, Jantet G, Wendell-Smith CP, Partsch H. Nomenclature of the veins of the lower limbs: an international interdisciplinary consensus statement. J Vasc Surg 2002;36: 416−22.
  • 2. Kachlik D, Pechacek V, Musil V, Baca V. The deep venous system of the lower extremity: new nomenclature. Phlebology 2012;27:48−58.
  • 3. Hamilton HE, Darke SG. Persistent sciatic vein–unusual cause of reflux from the popliteal fossa and sural nerve damage. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 1999;17:539−41.
  • 4. Trigaux JP, Vanbeers BE, Delchambre FE, de Fays FM, Schoevaerdts JC. Sciatic venous drainage demonstrated by varicography in patients with a patent deep venous system. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 1989;12:103−6.
  • 5. Cherry KJ, Gloviczki P, Stanson AW. Persistent sciatic vein: diagnosis and treatment of a rare condition. J Vasc Surg 1996;23:490−7.
  • 6. Srisuwan T, Arworn S, Rerkasem K. Case series of isolated primary persistent sciatic vein. Int J Low Extrem Wounds 2013;12:219−22.
  • 7. Cardoso BB, Alvarenga CO, Miyahara MD, Burihan MC, Lima MR, Kuwahara MC, Silva RC. Persistant sciatic vein [Persistência da veia ciática]. Journal Vascular Brasileiro 2010;9:137−40.
  • 8. Latarjet M, Liard AR. Anatomía humana. 4th ed. Buenos Aires: Editorial Médica Panamericana; 2004. p. 928.
  • 9. Ahlawat S, Fayad LM, Durand DJ, Puttgen K, Tekes A. International society for the study of vascular anomalies classification of soft tissue vascular anomalies: survey-based assessment of musculoskeletal radiologists’ use in clinical practice. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 2019;48:10− 6.
  • 10. Baskerville PA, Ackroyd JS, Browse NL. The etiology of the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. Ann Surg 1985;202:624−7.
  • 11. Koç T, Gilan İY, Külekçi GD, Kurtoğlu Z. Bilateral persistent sciatic vein: report of a case with developmental, histological and clinical aspects. Surg Radiol Anat 2014;36:189−94.
  • 12. Noel AA, Gloviczki P, Cherry Jr KJ, Rooke TW, Stanson AW, Driscoll DJ. Surgical treatment of venous malformations in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. J Vasc Surg 2000;32:840−7.
  • 13. Hamilton HE, Darke SG. Persistent sciatic vein–unusual cause of reflux from the popliteal fossa and sural nerve damage. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 1999;17:539−41.
  • 14. Labropoulos N, Tassiopoulos AK, Gasparis AP, Phillips B, Pappas PJ. Veins along the course of the sciatic nerve. J Vasc Surg 2009;49: 690−6.
  • 15. Parry DJ, Aldoori MI, Hammond RJ, Kessel DO, Weston M, Scott DJ. Persistent sciatic vessels, varicose veins, and lower limb hypertrophy: an unusual case or discrete clinical syndrome? J Vasc Surg 2002;36:396−400.
  • 16. Trihan JE, Perez-Martin A, Thollot C, Belhadj-Chaidi R, Escure E, Guillaumat J, Lanéelle D. Thrombosis of previously silent persistent sciatic vein in non Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome patient. J Med Vasc 2020;45:13−7.
Anatomy-Cover
  • ISSN: 1307-8798
  • Yayın Aralığı: Yılda 3 Sayı
  • Başlangıç: 2007
  • Yayıncı: Deomed Publishing