[Ilio femoral thrombosis: an infrequent complication of an aortic and iliac aneurysm. Report of two cases].

Death due to rupture of and abdominal aortic or iliac aneurysm, is their most frequent complication. We report two male patients, both over seventy years old, who presented with unexplained unilateral ilio-femoral deep vein thrombosis. During diagnostic work up an aortic and iliac aneurysm, compressing the deep venous system with secondary thrombosis, was found. In both patients a prophylactic inferior vena caval filter was inserted and standard elective surgery was then performed. No perioperative complications occurred and both patients remain asymptomatic during follow up. Deep vein thrombosis due to compression by an abdominal aortic and iliac aneurysm is infrequent. It must be ruled out together with intrabdominal cancer, in the elderly patient presenting with unexplained deep vein thrombosis.