Bilateral Persistent Sciatic Arteries with Unilateral Complication:a Case Report

ABSTRACT

The sciatic artery is a major artery of the lower limb bulb during the early embryonic period. Its failure to regress is sometimes associated with femoral artery hypoplasia, and therefore, the dominant inflow to the lower extremity is called a persistent sciatic artery (PSA). This anomaly is often associated with a higher rate of aneurysm formation or thromboembolic complications that cause lower extremity ischemia. A 51-year-old man presented with complaints of right calf pain and a several month history of progressive claudication. CT angiography showed bilateral PSAs originating from hypogastric arteries. A long segment of the right PSA showed aneurysmal dilatation and thrombotic occlusion and the superficial femoral artery showed hypoplastic change. Focal segmental occlusion of the right popliteal artery below the knee was seen. He received a right femoro-posterior tibial bypass with a reversed saphenous vein graft. The patient' s postoperative course was uneventful and no complications were observed at 16 weeks follow-up.