title: Comparison of popliteal artery aneurysm therapies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) has advanced over time. Constant development of new endovascular techniques has converted these into the most attractive methods available today. However, results for each endovascular procedure are still limited, and available data have emerged from studies examining only a small number of cases. The present retrospective review was designed to examine early and late results for PAA treatment and to identify possible factors associated with graft patency.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective review of all PAAs treated from January 1993 to December 2013. Symptomatic and asymptomatic PAAs >2 cm treated using open surgery or an endovascular procedure were included. Kaplan-Meier curves and the Breslow test were used to analyze data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 171 aneurysms were treated in 142 men (mean age, 69.3 years); of these, 53.3% were asymptomatic and 18.7% presented as acute ischemia. Saphenous vein was used for bypass in 57.9% of the patients, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in 23.4%, and a stent graft in 18.7%. In the open surgical group, a popliteal-popliteal bypass was performed in 37.4% and a distal anastomosis to a tibial vessel was required in 14.4%. Good runoff (two to three vessels) was present in 69%. Perioperative mortality (30 days) was 1.8%. Of eight early occlusions recorded, five (2.9%) underwent reoperations. Major amputations were needed in five patients (all with previous acute ischemia). Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 49 months (range, 1-228 months). Primary and secondary patency rates at 24, 36, and 60 months were 76.3% and 89.5%, 73.4% and 87.4%, and 68.3% and 80.9%, respectively. Popliteal-popliteal bypasses showed better primary patency at 24 months when saphenous vein was used vs ePTFE (94.9% vs 79%; P = .04); however, similar patency rates were recorded for short ePTFE bypasses and stent grafts (79% vs 79.7%). On multivariate analysis, only poor runoff emerged as an independent factor for worse primary patency (hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-7.2; P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The open repair of PAA offers good long-term results, especially in asymptomatic patients, those undergoing elective surgery, and those showing good runoff. Given the also good midterm outcomes of endovascular treatment, this may be a feasible option in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Serrano Hernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: isakitoml@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez López
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuela María
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hernández Mateo
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernando Rydings
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez Hervás
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rial Horcajo
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moñux Ducajú
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín Conejero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018579:Patient Selection; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene