A retrospective multicenter study of endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysm

To evaluate the feasibility of endovascular exclusion of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) using stent grafts.

The clinical data of all patients who underwent endovascular exclusion of PAA at three French vascular departments between December 1999 and December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Outcome measures included graft patency and endoleak. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the primary and secondary patency curves.

A total of 57 PAA in 50 patients (48 men; mean age, 72 +/- 11 years; range, 57-96 years) were treated. The type of stent graft used was Hemobahn/Viabahn in 42 (73.7%) cases, Wallgraft in 14 (24.5%) and Passager in one. The mean duration of hospitalization was 5 +/- 1.8 days (range, 3-11 days). No patients were lost from follow up (mean, 36 +/- 19.4 months; range, 6-96 months). Nine (16%) occlusions and six (10.5%) endoleaks occurred. The global limb salvage rate was 96.5% (55 of 57 PAA). Kaplan-Meier estimates for primary and secondary patency were 85.8% and 87.5% at one year and 82.3% and 87.5% at three years.

Endovascular treatment of PAA is feasible in selected patients. The main determinants of success are suitable aneurysm anatomy and dual antiplatelet postoperative therapy. Further studies are warranted to determine long-term outcomes of endovascular repair for PAA.