Endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms

Objective. To present the results of the endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms. Methods. From April 1999 to January 2002, 11 patients, aged 40-94 years, with 12 popliteal aneurysms were treated. Nine (75%) underwent an endoluminal repair, of whom three were done emergently due to a aneurysm rupture. Aneurysm diameter was 28-105 (mean 69) mm. A Hemobahn stent graft was inserted in six, Wallgraft in two and Passager in one case. Results. During a mean follow-up of 14 (3-31) months, four (44%) thromboses occurred: two in the early postoperative period (30 days) and two during the late postoperative period. Two of the four occluded grafts were successfully reopened, and in the one a stenosis of the distal end of the stent graft was treated with balloon dilatation. Potency rates at I and 12 months were 64/47% (primary patency) and 88/75% (secondary patency), respectively. Conclusion. Initial experience with endovascular treatment of the popliteal aneurysm in high-risk patients yielded modest results. Larger number of patients and further follow-up time is necessary to evaluate the long-term results.