Ruptured popliteal artery aneurysm. An insidious complication.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence and clinical presentation of ruptured popliteal aneurysms.


METHODS
The records of 89 consecutive patients, all males, seen between 1958 and 1995 with 124 arteriosclerotic popliteal aneurysms were reviewed retrospectively. Most aneurysms were symptomatic (69/124; 55.6%). In six cases (6/124; 4.8%) a rupture was present.


RESULTS
There was a wide range in primary diagnosis varying from deep venous thrombosis to peroneal nerve palsy. In all cases primary reconstructive surgery was performed. No primary or secondary amputations were necessary. Surgical outcome was good in four cases. In the remaining cases one patient suffered from a permanent peroneal nerve palsy and one from non-disabling claudication. Review of the literature showed a rupture incidence of 2.5% (range 0-16%) and amputation rates as high as 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
An acute rupture of a popliteal aneurysm is rare. Although the clinical presentation can be non-specific, this possibility must be especially taken into account when dealing with older male patients presenting with signs and symptoms of generalised atherosclerosis and non-specific pain in the popliteal region.
Sie
R B
RB
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Dawson
I
I
van Baalen
J M
JM
Schultze Kool
L J
LJ
van Bockel
J H
JH
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome