[Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome]

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon congenital anomaly. It arises due to compression of the popliteal artery by tendomuscular structures often combined with an anomalous position of the artery. Mostly young men are suffering of this disease. There are four common variations of this anomaly. We report on a 14 year old patient who had an acute 24 hours duration right leg ischemia caused by PAES. Using a posterior approach to the popliteal artery, following division of the accessory slip of gastrocnemius muscle we performed an arteriotomy and a floating thrombus was removed. The artery was reconstructed by direct continuous suture. One year postoperatively the boy has no complaints, peripheral pulse is palpable.