Limb salvage and popliteal aneurysms: Advantages of preventive surgery

Abstract

Objectives: to assess the prognosis of atherosclerotic popliteal aneurysms (APAs), according to whether they were occluded or patent at the time of diagnosis. Design: retrospective study. Patients and methods: fifty-two APAs were investigated in 35 patients. Nineteen were occluded (group I) and 33 patent (group II). In group I, 11 lower limbs had critical ischaemia, and eight had severe claudication. In group II, 27 were asymptomatic, 3 were painful, and 3 presented with symptomatic distal occlusion. In group I, treatment consisted of six bypasses, five thrombectomies, four thrombolyses, but for five APAs, no revascularisation was possible due to lack of runoff. In group II, 30/33 APAs were treated by graft replacement; the other three were not operated on due to the patients' poor general condition. Results: the 4-year-survival rate was 72% in group I vs. 77% in group II, and the limb salvage rate was 72% in group I vs. 100% in group II, p < 0.01. Conclusion: prophylactic treatment of asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms may avoid amputation caused by thrombosis and embolisation of runoff.