title: Extraanatomic lateral reconstruction to the popliteal vessels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the lateral approach to the popliteal artery in reconstructions after soft tissue sarcoma resection in the thigh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case reports. Subjects Four patients with soft tissue sarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extraanatomic reconstruction of the resected artery and vein in the medial part of the thigh was performed. Vessel reconstruction was performed before tumor resection to avoid leg ischemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all four patients the artery was replaced by using the contralateral saphenous vein, while the femoral vein was replaced in two cases using e-PTFE. Post-operative complications included one large lymphatic collection and a deep wound infection. Arterial primary graft patency was 100% after 1-7 years. Patency of the e-PTFE-venous graft was 0% without further consequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extraanatomic lateral replacement of the vessels in the thigh is an elegant method in difficult vascular reconstructions after soft tissue sarcoma resection or debridement for deep vascular infections.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Vascular Surgery, Aarau, Switzerland. peter.stierli@ksa.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stierli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hefti
authors.forename: Th
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eugster
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gürke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene