Popliteal aneurysms--surgical management versus conservative procedure
Schröder, A.; Gohlke, J.; Gross-Fengels, W.; Horstmann, R.
Langenbecks Archiv für Chirurgie. Supplement. Kongressband. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie. Kongress 113: 857-863
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0942-2854 PMID: 9102006 Document Number: 457714
217 patients with 349 popliteal aneurysms (PA) were studied. 45% presented with symptomatic complications, mainly thrombosis (21% acute, 15% chronic) and embolisation (7%). The mean diameter was significantly larger in acutely thrombosed (2.69 cm) than in patent PA (2.15 cm). The amputation rate in patients requiring emergency treatment was 36.1% after 2 years. The difference to patients undergoing bypass surgery in an asymptomatic stage (4-year graft patency 89%, limb salvage 100%) is highly significant. Of 128 PA treated conservatively, 53% were free of complications after 5 years. We conclude that prophylactic surgery of PA is justified in cases at high risk of developing complications, but that characteristics of those cases are not yet well defined.