Background: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic value of endovascular treatment in patients with buttock claudication caused by stenosis or occlusion of the bilateral internal iliac arteries.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included a total of 12 patients (9 males, 3 females; mean age 63.7±6.4 years; range 54 to 74 years) with persistent buttock claudication who underwent endovascular repair of bilateral internal iliac artery stenosis or occlusion and were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in another session at our center between July 2012 and February 2016. The iliac Doppler ultrasonography and/or computed tomography angiography were performed at six and 12 months to evaluate restenosis or occlusion. Symptom relief was considered a successful outcome.

Results: The median follow-up was 16.5±3.7 (range, 12 to 24) months. Four patients underwent a bilateral intervention and eight patients underwent unilateral intervention. There was a 100% technical success rate with no complications. The primary patency rate at 12 months was 87.5%. Six patients (50%) had complete and four patients (33.3%) had partial relief of the buttock claudication symptoms.

Conclusion: Percutaneous angioplasty of the internal iliac arteries is a technically feasible and safe method in patients with buttock claudication and bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion or stenosis. Complete or partial relief of symptoms can be achieved in the majority of patients with a high primary patency rate.

Keywords : Balloon angioplasty; buttock claudication; internal iliac artery