ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Italian Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2007 June;14(2):81-8

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Stent-graft repair of popliteal artery aneurysms

Piffaretti G., Tozzi M., Lomazzi C., Rivolta N., Caronno R., Castelli P.

Unit of Vascular Surgery Department of Surgery University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

Aim. The aim of this study was to present our experience evaluating the effectiveness and durability of popliteal artery aneurysms treatment with stent-graft.
Methods. In the last 6-years, 15 patients aged 72±7 (range 57-85) with 16 popliteal artery aneurysms underwent stent-graft repair. Aneurysm diameter was 44±20 mm (range 20-90), and mean length was 58±24 mm (range 18-90). Fourteen patients were symtpomatic: 5 aneurysms presented with acute thrombosis. All the procedures were performed in the theatre under loco-regional anesthesia.
Results. Primary technical success in placing the stent- graft and excluding the aneurysm was 100%; early oc- clusion was never observed. During a mean follow-up of 22.7 months (range 6-60), 6 late occlusions occurred; 3 patients underwent conversion to conventional femoro- distal bypass after a mean period of 12-months, 2 patients underwent major amputation, and 1 aneurysm was managed conservatively. Four patients died during the follow-up for procedure unrelated causes. Overall, primary patency rates at 1, 3 and 5-years were 84.6%, 63.4% and 47.6%, respectively.
Conclusion. Our experience suggests that endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms is feasible with initial acceptable results, but have lower long-term patency rates than conventional surgery have been recorded.