[Popliteal artery aneurysms. Thirty-year experience at the ABC Medical Center].
BACKGROUND
Although popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) are rare (0.1% of the general population), they are the most common of the peripheral aneurysms. They are associated with concomitant contralateral PAA and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), with a high risk of complications and an elevated morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective, transversal and retrolective study of a series of cases. We reviewed the clinical records of 11 patients with the diagnosis of PAA at the ABC Medical Center in Mexico City.


RESULTS
All patients were males, and seven (63.63%) had bilateral PAA resulting in a total of 18 aneurysms; 54.54% had concomitant AAA with an association of 71.42% in the cases of bilateral PAA. Primary risk factors were smoking (90.90%) and hypertension 63.60%. Six (33.33%) aneurysms demonstrated acute thrombosis and critical leg ischemia. Eight (44.44%) aneurysms treated electively had a favorable outcome. The six (33.33%) thrombosed aneurysms showed morbidity, amputation and mortality rates of 66.66, 33.33 and 16.66%, respectively. For the other four (22.22%) aneurysms, treatment was deferred. Specific analysis of the thrombosed PAA demonstrated that the two main factors that predicted thrombosis were hypertension (p = 0.029) and bilaterality.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of the high morbidity and mortality rates of thrombosed PAA, it is advisable to perform elective surgical treatment in any popliteal aneurysm >2 cm and with the presence of mural thrombus, torsion and, especially, if it is bilateral and the patient is hypertensive.
Rojas-Reyna
Guillermo Alfonso
GA
Departamento de Cirugía, Centro Médico ABC, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. mdrrojas@hotmail.com
Cervantes-Castro
Jorge
J
Alvarado-Bachmann
Raúl
R
Wellman-Wollenstein
Ricardo
R
Cervera-Servin
Andrés
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007511:Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome