In-situ saphenous vein bypass graft for popliteal artery aneurysm

Popliteal artery aneurysms are dangerous and limb threatening; they can present with various ischemic symptoms. Surgical treatment is advised to avoid thromboembolic complications. In most cases the aneurysm is bypassed with a tunnelled reversed saphenous vein or with a prosthetic graft followed by ligation of the popliteal artery. In the popliteal fossa, the close relation between the graft and the aneurysm may cause graft failure. Four patients with symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms were treated with an extra-popliteal in-situ saphenous vein graft, so far without failures. An additional advantage of an in-situ graft is the better result in case of a distal anastomosis.