Tortuous External Iliac Artery Siphon, Entrapping the Obturator Nerve

Introduction: we report a case of tortuous external iliac artery (EIA), which was compressing the obturator nerve. This was observed over the left side in an embalmed male cadaver, of approximately 70-year age individual. The EIA was mimicking a siphon and this siphon was compressing the structures entering the obturator canal, particularly the obturator nerve. It was observed that the EIA was thicker and harder than the usual. The observation of EIA of the right side did not reveal any tortuosity. The tortuous EIA compressing the obturator nerve as in this case may cause symptoms like pain and tingling sensation, numbness in the hip and knee joints. In addition, this may lead to adductor muscles weakness. Such neurovascular compression as seen in this present case are noteworthy especially with procedures concerned with the obturator nerve block. The knowledge of tortuous EIA is enlightening to the cardiologist during the procedures like catheterization and implanting the endografts.