Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors of Popliteal Artery Aneurysm / 대한혈관외과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The present study investigated clinical features of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) and evaluated clinical factors which cause poor outcomes of surgical management. METHODS: From January 2004 to January 2011, 17 patients underwent surgical treatment at Asan Medical Center. Patient medical records and radiographic findings were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty one PAAs were treated in 17 patients, consisting 15 men (88.2%) and 2 women (11.8%) and were diagnosed at a median age of 59 years (range 24-88). The mean PAA diameter was 2.73+/-1.88 cm (range 1.1-7.1 cm). Ten patients (58.8%) had bilateral PAAs. Four patients (19.0%) had abdominal aortic aneurysms, and 9 patients (42.9%) had other peripheral artery aneurysms. Acute limb ischemia was the initial presentation symptom in 9 patients (42.9%), and chronic limb ischemia was present in 9 patients (42.9%). One patient (4.8%) was asymptomatic. All patients received interposition or bypass surgery. The graft patency and limb salvage rate were 81.0% and 90.5%, respectively. Two of 3 cases (66.7%) of no distal run-off developed graft obstruction, while only 2 of 18 cases (11.1%) of patent distal run-off showed graft obstruction. However, no statistical significance was observed between graft obstruction and lack of distal run-off (P=0.080). The risk factor for amputation was no distal run-off (P=0.014). CONCLUSION: The patency of distal branches was a contributing factor for improving the outcome of surgical management.