title: Treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms by means of cryopreserved homograft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous saphenous vein is considered the gold standard conduit in the femoral-popliteal revascularization for popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs). In several cases, it may be absent or unsuitable for length or diameter and so it may be considered unfit for a conduit. In such patients, a synthetic graft or the endovascular correction can be useful, but results are controversial. In this retrospective case series, we have analyzed the safety and efficacy of the cryopreserved homograft (CHg) as a conduit in the PAA revascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period between January 2005 and December 2013, 54 PAAs have been treated with an arterial CHg. Indications to surgery were asymptomatic aneurysm with >25-mm diameter in 30 cases (55.6%), ischemic symptoms in 20 (37%), and compressive symptoms in 4 (7.4%). An urgent treatment was performed in 8 cases (14.8%) for severe ischemic symptoms. All cases have been operated by the same vascular team: a posterior surgical approach was preferred whenever possible (33 cases, 61.1%). All patients received a clinical and radiologic follow-up, and all data were collected in a specific database. A >10-mm diameter increase of the conduit was considered significant for an aneurysmatic degeneration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcomes were complications and reoperation rate, limb salvage, and primary and secondary patency. Secondary outcome was the incidence of aneurysmatic degeneration of the CHg. Mean diameter of the homografts was 6.3 mm (range, 4-8 mm). In the 30-day postoperative period, 7 PAAs (13%) developed a complication: 3 wound infections, 3 graft thrombosis, and 1 anastomotic bleeding. Six cases needed a reoperation: 2 surgical revascularizations, 2 wound debridement, and 1 anastomotic hemostasis; 1 major amputation was necessary for graft failure after the revascularization. Mean follow-up was 34.8 months (range, 1-96). Five cases (9.3%) developed a graft complication with 4 reoperations necessary (7.4%): 2 grafts required a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for a perigraft stenosis and 2 underwent a femorodistal bypass in CHg for severe ischemic symptoms after CHg occlusion. Another one CHg occlusion was treated conservatively because it was clinically asymptomatic. Primary patency was 96.3%, 93.9%, and 88.3% at 12, 36, and 60 months, respectively; secondary patency was 98.1% at 12, 36, and 60 months. Freedom from amputation resulted in 98.1%. No aneurysmatic degeneration was observed. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed urgent surgery to be independent risk factors for complications, reoperations, and CHg occlusion (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this retrospective study, the use of CHg showed to be safe and effective in the surgery of PAAs, either in the short or in the long-term follow-up. Urgent surgery can be considered predictive of graft failure. In our experience, CHg can be considered a good alternative conduit to the autologous saphenous vein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Polo Chirurgico "P. Confortini", Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mezzetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Polo Chirurgico "P. Confortini", Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scorsone
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Polo Chirurgico "P. Confortini", Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacca
authors.affiliation: Unit of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Polo Chirurgico "P. Confortini", Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puppini
authors.affiliation: Unit of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Polo Chirurgico "P. Confortini", Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perandini
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Polo Chirurgico "P. Confortini", Verona, Italy. Electronic address: gianfranco.veraldi@ospedaleuniverona.it.
authors.forename: Gian Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Veraldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064591:Allografts; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000637:transplantation*; D007558:Italy; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency