Popliteal Aneurysms as a Cause for Arterial Insufficiency

Clinical manifestations, possibilities for accurate diagnosis of popliteal aneurysms, and operative approaches applied depending on their location are presented, as well as results from treatment over a four-year period. Popliteal artery aneurysms accounted for 5.63% of all 266 cases of acute arterial insufficiency. The mean age of the patients was 68.8 years, and the male:female ratio – 4:1. In five patients (33.33%), the localization of aneurysm was unilateral. In 80% of the cases with bilateral popliteal aneurysms, the aneurysms were combined with aneurysms of other locations. The surgical technique applied was posterior approach with resection of the aneurysm and interposition of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prosthesis. The early patency rate of the reconstructed segment was 100%. Late patency rate of the reconstructed segment was 90.9%. Despite the better late results in femoropopliteal reconstruction, we think that a posterior approach with prosthesis implantation is better because it saves the great saphenous vein. The presence of multiple aneurysms in the patients studied (80%) determined the low survival at 5 and 10 years, which makes it comparable to the results from applying the two surgical methods.