Endovascular Management of External Iliac “Snowplowing” Using “Reverse Snowplow” Technique During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

This case describes an 84-year-old female with chronic diastolic heart failure, coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass and percutaneous coronary intervention, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease stage III, who presented with progressive dyspnea found to have severe aortic stenosis demonstrated by echocardiogram (aortic valve area, .06 cm2; mean gradient, 42 mm Hg). She was evaluated by the Heart Team and deemed to be a candidate for a transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) after computed tomography angiography (CTA) evaluation. During insertion of the valve sheath through the external iliac, intimal “snowplowing” occurred resulting in complete occlusion of the iliac artery. The intima was successfully milked back into anatomical position using a “reverse snowplow” technique. Extravasation was managed with covered stents. The patient recovered over several days and was discharged home on post-procedure day 7. When appropriate, Endovascular management of vascular complications avoids the morbidity associated with open repair. Pre-operative evaluation is imperative in identifying anatomical features that pose a risk to vascular complications. This patient had an increased risk with an elevated iliofemoral tortuosity score, however, had minimal calcification and no acute angulation in the iliofemoral arterial system. This case highlights the complexity of vascular complication management and difficulty faced in identifying patients who are at risk for these types of complications.