MANAGEMENT OF POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSM

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONPopliteal artery aneurysms are uncommon but not rare, and they represent an important problem in the practice of vascular surgery. In general, one patient with popliteal aneurysm will be seen for every 10 to 15 with aortic aneurysms, and the popliteal artery is the site of approximately 70% of all peripheral artery aneurysms.As popliteal aneurysms are in many cases asymptomatic, the level of clinical suspicion is low.Thrombosis and distal embolisation producing sever ischaemia of the lower extromity are the most frequent and well known complications of this condition in addition to the uncommon acute rupture of the aneurysm.In this study, we have dealt with 20 patients who came to casuality and outpatient clinic of Zagazig university hospital.All these patients are submitted to- Full history taking.- Investigation including duplex ultrasound scanning of popliteal fossa, abdominal ultrasonography and digital subtraction angiography.- Surgical approach either by :(a) Traditional approach with proximal and distal control then bypass graft.(b) Surgical approach under toniguet-ligation and bypass graft.Finally we recommend surgical repair for all symptomatic aneurysms and all asymptomatic cases larger than 2 cm in diameter provided that no medical contraindication exists, with early referral of doubtful cases to specialized centers to deal with, to avoid many limb- threatening complications.