title: Endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the results of the endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 1999 to January 2002, 11 patients, aged 40-94 years, with 12 popliteal aneurysms were treated. Nine (75%) underwent an endoluminal repair, of whom three were done emergently due to an aneurysm rupture. Aneurysm diameter was 28-105 (mean 69) mm. A Hemobahn stent graft was inserted in six, Wallgraft in two and Passager in one case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a mean follow-up of 14 (3-31) months, four (44%) thromboses occurred: two in the early postoperative period (30 days) and two during the late postoperative period. Two of the four occluded grafts were successfully reopened, and in the one a stenosis of the distal end of the stent graft was treated with balloon dilatation. Patency rates at 1 and 12 months were 64/47% (primary patency) and 88/75% (secondary patency), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial experience with endovascular treatment of the popliteal aneurysm in high-risk patients yielded modest results. Larger number of patients and further follow-up time is necessary to evaluate the long-term results.
authors.affiliation: Fifth Surgical Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokrateion Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gerasimidis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sfyroeras
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papazoglou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trellopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntinas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karamanos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy