title: Limb salvage and popliteal aneurysms: advantages of preventive surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to assess the prognosis of atherosclerotic popliteal aneurysms (APAs), according to whether they were occluded or patent at the time of diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  fifty-two APAs were investigated in 35 patients. Nineteen were occluded (group I) and 33 patent (group II). In group I, 11 lower limbs had critical ischaemia, and eight had severe claudication. In group II, 27 were asymptomatic, 3 were painful, and 3 presented with symptomatic distal occlusion. In group I, treatment consisted of six bypasses, five thrombectomies, four thrombolyses, but for five APAs, no revascularisation was possible due to lack of runoff. In group II, 30/33 APAs were treated by graft replacement; the other three were not operated on due to the patients>> poor general condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the 4-year survival rate was 72% in group I vs. 77% in group II, and the limb salvage rate was 72% in group I vs. 100% in group II, p<0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  prophylactic treatment of asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms may avoid amputation caused by thrombosis and embolisation of runoff.
authors.affiliation: University of Paris VI, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gouny
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duedal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheynel-Hocquet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lancelin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escourolle
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nussaumeand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vayssairat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000792:Angiography; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex