Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: report of 8 cases / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize our experience on the diagnosis and management of 8 patients with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES). Methods Clinical data of 8 PAES cases admitted from Jul 2002 to Jul 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 1 female with the mean age of (29 ± 14)years (ranging 16 -56 years). In 6 cases posterior "S" shaped incisions in the popliteal fossa were applied and anomalous anatomic structures were verified. Segmental stenosis and post-stenotic popliteal arterial aneurysm was identified in 2 cases, and partial resection of the aneurismal wall and arterioplasty including one with saphenous vein patch were applied; For 4 cases with short segmental occlusion of the popliteal artery, surgical treatment included thromboendarterectomy in 2 cases (with saphenous vein patch plasty in one case), saphenous vein interposition in 1 case, and saphenous vein bypass grafting in 1 case.Medial longitudinal incisions and saphenous vein bypass grafting were applied in 2 cases with long segmental occlusion in popliteal artery without exploration for anatomic anomalies. Results All patients recovered uneventfully without any notable complication. During the follow-up period ranging from 4 to 99 months [average (50± 37) months], no ischemic symptom reoccurred in 7 cases with patent arteries or grafts, and recurrent claudication occurred in 1 case with distal anastomostic stenosis. The stenosis was subsequently treated with balloon angioplasty and vein graft thrombsis occurred one month later. Medicine and exercise were recommended for the patient and now mild claudication still remains without affecting his normal life.Conclusions PAES is a disease of relatively low incidence resulting in lower extremity ischemia, which can be successfully cured with proper management.