Persistent Sciatic Artery: A Case Report

Abstract

Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a very rare congenital vascular anomaly, occurs in 0.025% to 0.04% of the population, and occasionally associated with thromboembolic events or aneurismal diseases. We herein share experience of diagnosis and successful treatment of a Vietnamese patient with PSA complicated with distal thromboembolism. A 70-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for acute lower limb ischemia. A computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed complete occlusion of the left common iliac artery. Surgical embolectomy was carried out and abnormal distal left femoral artery was noted intraoperatively. Postoperative CTA showed a persistent sciatic artery (PSA) on the left and adequate perfusion of the left lower limb. During 2 years follow-up, the patient remained symptom-free with good perfusion to the distal left popliteal artery, anterior and posterior tibial arteries.