VASCULAR CONFLICTS IN ANDROLOGY . PART 1 . UPPER LEVEL ARTERYOVENOUS CONFLICTS ©

ТЕРМИНОЛОГИЯ Под сосудистыми конфликтами понимают такое расположение артерий и вен, при котором происходит деформация стенки вены артерией, приводящая к компрессии, локальной венозной гипертензии и нарушению венозного оттока. Эта ситуация, как правило, компенсируется развитием коллатерального кровообращения и сопровождается полиморфной клинической картиной. Актуальность этой темы обусловлена тем, что чаще всего врачи пытаются лечить следствие без выявления и учета причины. Результатом такого подхода является относительно низкая и временная результативность проводимого лечения. В настоящей работе мы проанализировали ранее известные и современные данные об артериовенозных конфликтах у мужчин с позиции уролога и андролога. Задача настоящей работы заключалась в обзоре роли артериовенозных конфликтов в развитии андрологических заболеваний, а также диагностической и лечебной тактики при этих состояниях.

sent an inevitable pathogenetic link in this disease (Fig. 1).
The left common iliac vein compression syndrome is often called the May -Thurner syndrome in the English language literature. In 2006, R.M. Burke et al. first described a right-sided May -Thurner syndrome in a 62-year-old patient who had deep venous thrombosis with pulmonary artery thromboembolism for four years; therefore, a filter was inserted into the inferior vena cava [2].

PRevalence
In 1908, J.P. McMurrich revealed an obstruction of the left common iliac vein in 31.25% of 32 autopsy cases [3] and in 30% of 57 autopsy cases [4]. In 1943, W.E. Ehrich and E.B. Krumbhaar detected an obstruction of the left common iliac vein in 23.8% of 412 autopsy cases. It is possible that minor obstruction was noted in 4% of cases and that other abnormalities in the iliac veins were registered in 1.8% of cases [5]. In 1957, R. May and J. Thurner in conducting the autopsy of 430 corpses revealed the pressing of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery to the body of the fifth vertebra in 19-22% of cases [6]. D. Negus et al. (1968), while examining 100 patients registered obstruction of the left common iliac vein in 14% of cases [7]. N. Usui et al. (1978) detected tunica media hypertrophy and fibrous adhesions in the left common iliac vein in 50% of cases during the autopsy of 90 corpses and only in one of them was found in the right common iliac vein [8]. According to H.C. Baron et al. (2000), asymptomatic compression of the left common iliac vein in the adult population occurs in 16-20% of cases [9].
Thus, iliac venous compression is a widespread pathology.

classification
From the clinician's point of view, the compression of iliac veins can be thrombotic or non-thrombotic. Previously, physicians mainly focused on diagnosing and treating the thrombotic compression.
Variants of non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL) were described by S. Raju and P. Neglen in 2006 [10]. The authors identified four variants of arteriovenous conflicts: 1) classical left-sided proximal compression due to left common iliac vein compression by the right common iliac artery (left proximal NIVL); 2) right-sided proximal compression due to compression of the right common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery (right proximal NIVL); 3) left-sided distal compression due to compression of the left external iliac vein by the left internal iliac artery (left distal NIVL); 4) right-sided distal compression due to compression of the right external iliac vein by the right common iliac artery (right distal NIVL).
A classification of morphological changes in the left common iliac vein in May -Thurner syndrome was proposed by U.B. Jeon et al. (2010), in which type I indicated focal compression of the right common iliac artery, type II indicated diffuse atrophy of the left common iliac vein, and type III indicated cicatricial obliteration of the left common iliac vein [11]. During the autopsy of 28 corpses (12 men and 16 women), with mean age of 82.5 years, H. Mitsuoka et al. (2013) established two variants of aortic abnormalities at the intersection of the right common iliac artery, where group A included complete or partial compression of the right common iliac artery by the left common iliac vein (low level aortic bifurcation) in 19 (67.9%) of 28 corpses and group B included compression of the inferior vena cava by the right common iliac artery (high-level aortic bifurcation) in 9 (32%) of the 28 corpses [12]. R. Englund (2017) examined and treated 61 patients with compression of the left common iliac vein, and proposed his classification based on the phlebography results (Table 1) [13]. The author also stated that the indication for angioplasty and stenting was stage 2 in 20% of cases, stage 3 in 100%, stage 4a in 71.4%, and stage 4b in 75% of cases.
Analysis of MRI data of the inferior vena cava and small pelvic vessels, as well as contrast CT scan of the abdominal cavity organs in 225 patients with bilateral varicocele, varicose veins of the pelvic or-ISSN 2225-9074   gans, and May -Thurner syndrome between the ages of 17 and 69 years (on average 33.8 years) enabled to propose a topographic and anatomical classification of variants for compression of the iliac veins [14]. According to this classification, there are six compression variants: 1) central proximal represented by high bifurcation of the aorta, when the right common iliac artery compresses the lower part of the inferior vena cava before it divides into iliac veins; 2) central distal represented by high bifurcation of the aorta, in which the right common iliac artery compresses the lower part of the inferior vena cava at the site of its division into the iliac veins; 3) left proximal, when the right common iliac artery compresses the left common iliac vein (May -Thurner syndrome); 4) left distal represented by compression of the left external and/or left internal iliac artery by the left external iliac vein; 5) right proximal represented by compression of the right common iliac artery by the right common iliac vein; and 6) right distal represented by compression of the right external and/or right internal iliac artery of the right external iliac vein. S.A. Rizvi et al. (2018) from January 2013 to December 2014 performed 268 angioplasty surgeries and stenting procedures in 210 patients with nonthrombotic compression of the iliac veins. Bilateral stent placement was performed in 58 patients, and 173 (64.6%) surgeries were performed on women [15]. In addition, only in 42.6% of cases was the classic May -Thurner syndrome identified (Table 2). When processing MRI data of the inferior vena cava and small pelvic vessels with 3D reconstruction, which does not determine the iliac compression localization but its severity, we made a decision on the feasibility of identifying the four stages of this disease [16] (Fig. 2).
We identified four stages of the May -Thurner syndrome, based on the presence and severity of collateral circulation while performing the ileocavagraphy (Fig. 3) [16].

Clinical manifestations
The natural course of the iliac vein compression syndrome is a prerequisite for the development of ileofemoral thrombosis. In 1965, F.B. Cockett and M.L. Thomas described 35 patients with ileofemoral thrombosis in combination with compression of the iliac vein. The detailed clinical presentation of ileofemoral thrombosis in patients with the iliac vein compression syndrome is known as the Cockett syndrome, according to the name of the author who described the clinical presentation of the disease [17,18]. Hypertension in the system of the left common iliac vein due to its compression between the right common iliac artery and the body of the fifth lumbar vertebra (May -Thurner syndrome) causes venous congestion of the pelvic organs (Fig. 4) and counterpulsation through the vein of the musculus cremaster into the uviform plexus of the testicle and its epididymis (ileospermic varicocele) (Fig. 5).
B.L. Coolsaet (1980) presented the results of the angiographic examination of 67 patients with leftsided varicocele [19]. Three types of varicocele were identified using the intravenous angiography of the kidneys in the internal testicular and common iliac veins: 1) in the internal testicular vein; 2) in the extrafunicular veins, which was caused by obstruction of the common iliac vein where they flow; 3) in both systems simultaneously (Fig. 6). A.I. Neimark et al. (2013) proposed to distinguish two types of varicocele: 1) isolated varicocele with minimal hemodynamic disorders in the right testis without involvement of the prostate gland in the pathological process; and 2) varicocele in combination with pelvic congestion, in which the disorders affect not only the left testicle, but also the contralateral testis and prostate [20]. ISSN [22] Ультразвуковая классификация варикозного расширения вен простаты по А.А. Капто (2017) [22] In both Nutcracker and May -Thurner syndromes, venous plethora of the prostatic plexus is noted. In May -Thurner syndrome, bilateral varicocele occurs as a rule, and according to TRUS, bilateral varicose veins of the prostatic plexus is noted (Fig. 7)

Diagnostics
The diagnosis of varicose veins of the pelvic organs is verified using TRUS in the presence of criteria such as varicose veins of the paraprostatic plexus of more than 5 mm and/or the presence of blow-out in the Valsalva test with duplex angioscanning [21]. In 2017, we proposed a classification of prostatic varicose veins (Table 3) [22].
The iliac venous compression syndrome is verified by MRI of the inferior vena cava or small pelvic vessels, as well as CT of the abdominal organs with contrast enhancement, phlebography, phlebomanometry, and intravascular ultrasound. When processing MRI data of the inferior vena cava and small pelvic vessels and CT scan of the abdominal cavity organs with contrast enhancement, the criteria for iliac venous (vertebroarterial) compression are determined, which include determining the va lue of the lower lumbar lordosis angle (LLLA) (norm 134.33-136.76°) and diameter of the iliac vein tunnel (IVTD) (norm 4.18-4.50 mm) [23].
The diagnosis of venogenic erectile dysfunction is verified using the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function 5) questionnaire, as well as ultrasound pharmacodoplerography of the penis and dynamic pharmacocavernosography.

Treatment
Treatment of the left iliac vein compression syndrome (May -Thurner syndrome) is performed by X-ray surgical methods, and includes the following stages: 1) vein puncture (femoral, popliteal); 2) multi-projection intraoperative phlebography to reveal the collateral circulation of the left common iliac vein; 3) balloon angioplasty of the left common iliac vein; 4) implantation of a stent into the left common iliac vein; 5) post-dilation of the stented segment; 6) control phlebography revealing the patency of the left common iliac vein and the absence of collateral circulation.
X-ray surgical angioplasty and stenting of the iliac veins in the treatment of thrombotic disease have been used for the last three decades [24][25][26][27]. In addition, X-ray surgical angioplasty and stenting of the iliac veins in the treatment of recurrent varicocele and varicose veins of the pelvic organs in men (chronic pelvic pain syndrome, venogenic erectile dysfunction, chronic prostatitis) have been used since 2017 [28,29].
From March 2017 to May 2019, we performed endovascular angioplasty and stenting in 70 patients with iliac venous compression, varicose veins of the pelvic organs, and bilateral varicocele with a positive clinical effect. The high clinical efficiency of X-ray endovascular angioplasty and stenting in patients with ileospermatic-type varicocele and varicose veins of the pelvic organs due to iliac venous compression enables to recommend this technique for use in such cases.
Currently, venous erectile dysfunction is not considered as an independent disease and, moreover, as a consequence of varicose dilatation of the dorsal vein of the penis. It is frequently caused by varicose veins of the pelvic organs. J.J. Keller et al. (2012), after analyzing more than 120,000 case histories, concluded that erectile dysfunction occurs five times more frequently in patients with varicocele. Moreover, the greatest prevalence of erectile dysfunction occurs at the age of over 60 years. According to Taiwanese researchers, previous surgical treatment for varicose veins of the spermatic cord reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction by approximately two times [30]. Varicose veins of the pelvic organs in men or pelvic phlebopathy syndrome, includes the following main clinical manifestations: 1) varicocele; 2) varicose veins of the skin of the scrotum, penis and lower extremities; 3) prostatopathy (chronic prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia); 4) venous insufficiency of the penis with the development of venogenic erectile dysfunction; 5) hemorrhoids; 6) chronic pain syndrome; 7) dysuria in the form of obstructive and/or irritative symptoms [22].
The generally accepted methods of surgical treatment of venogenic erectile dysfunction in most cases are not effective enough; therefore, endophalloprosthetics is most often offered to these patients as the last chance to optimize sexual function. An alternative field in the surgical treatment of venogenic erectile dysfunction is X-ray surgical embolization of the prostatic plexus veins, which has been used all over the world since 1984. The effectiveness of the embolization of the prostatic plexus veins exceeds significantly the effectiveness of other surgeries for venogenic erectile dysfunction, reaching an average of 85% cases according to the literature. According to the surgical approach, all methods of embolization can be divided into two groups, namely antegrade and retrograde embolization of the prostatic plexus veins (Table 4).
From our point of view, retrograde X-ray-guided surgical embolization of the prostatic plexus through the v. basilica (transbasilar approach) access is more convenient, since it does not involve the bending of the intravascular catheter in the ileocaval segment (Fig. 8).