Evaluation, Diagnosis and Management of Popliteal Artery Aneurysms: A Clinical Review

Abstract

Aneurysmal disease of the popliteal artery is more common than historically thought with most of the cases going unrecognized, many times until ischemic symptoms to the leg brings it to the physician’s attention. The fact that the popliteal artery is the most common location for peripheral artery aneurysms (PAA), and it is easily accessible to physical examination, makes necessary not only for surgeons, but all physicians to have a basic knowledge of this entity. The common pathophysiological defect where most of the etiologies converge seems to be degeneration of the artery media through a variety of mechanisms including metalloproteinases. Since the most important etiologic factor is atherosclerosis, it is expected that these patients will have other vascular manifestations in multiple other locations. Once clearly diagnosed, PAA can be treated with surgical ligation or resection of the aneurysmal sac and bypass. As with other vascular surgery problems, endovascular techniques have evolved to become more reliable as methods of treatment with growing technical success rates and patency rates. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jcs174w