Study of the ascending lumbar and iliolumbar veins: Surgical anatomy, clinical implications and review of the literature

Thorough knowledge of the surgical anatomy of ALV and ILV prevents injury, bleeding and further complication of many operations in the retroperitoneal space and pelvis. Awareness of the geometrical features of ALV and ILV helps avoiding or aids early recognition of a misplacement of a vascular catheter into the ALV during femoral vein catheterizations.