Endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms.
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.
Gerasimidis
T
T
Fifth Surgical Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokrateion Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Sfyroeras
G
G
Papazoglou
K
K
Trellopoulos
G
G
Ntinas
A
A
Karamanos
D
D
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