Management of iliofemoral vein injury during open inguinal hernia repair

BACKGROUND: Vascular injuries during inguinal hernia repair are rarely reported. Especially in children, we have little information about vascular management. CASE REPORT: In this article, we present a 6-year-old girl with right iliac vein ligation during inguinal hernia repair who was referred to our center and managed at the day of surgery. We recommended prior surgeon to order therapeutic heparin in dispatch time. The patient was treated with primary anastomosis of iliac vein and was admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). On the day following the operation, she had minimal dyspnea with low oxygen saturation and the investigations revealed pulmonary micro-embolization. Blood flow in lower extremity was normal and after a few days, she was discharged with good health and oral anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: Any unusual bleeding at the time of inguinal hernia repair should be considered as major vascular injury by the surgeon, and to prevent more injuries, minimum attempt must be performed to control the bleeding.