title: The thrombosed popliteal aneurysm with distal arterial occlusion--successful therapy by interdisciplinary management.
abstract: Aneurysms of the popliteal artery are rare. Their rate of incidence is reported from 0.1% up to 2.8%. Whereas surgical treatment in an asymptomatic stage bears no problems, the symptomatic stage in a high percentage of patients leads to extremity loss due to thrombosis or embolism. In these cases, amputation rates are reported from 16 to 69%. In the period 1981 - 1994 we saw 39 patients suffering from 58 popliteal aneurysms: 53.4% of these aneurysms were symptomatic. 24.1% of the popliteal aneurysms angiographically showed an occlusion of the popliteal and peripheral outflow tract with concomitant critical limb ischemia. By applying a preoperative local catheter fibrinolysis the outflow tract could be reopened in 13 ischemic extremities and a receiving segment could be recanalized for reconstruction. Following this procedure, in spite of the high number symptomatic cases we gained very good postoperative results in 70.7% of the treated extremities after a maximum follow-up time of 62 months. An aneurysm is commonly seen as a contraindication for the application of lytic therapy. But in the presence of critical extremity ischemia due to a thrombosed or embolizing popliteal aneurysm, preoperative catheter fibrinolysis can often help to save the extremity.
authors.affiliation: Center of Surgery, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gawenda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sorgatz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erasmi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator