[Popliteal aneurysms. Our experience apropos of 119 cases]

The authors report their experience of 119 popliteal aneurysms diagnosed in 76 patients. They feel that the prevalence of such aneurysms is underestimated. In 56% of cases there were bilateral aneurysms and in 24% of cases there was an associated aortic aneurysm. In 68% of cases, the popliteal aneurysm presented with complications. Clinical examination of the popliteal fossa gave a diagnosis in 66% of cases. In 1/3 of cases, arteriography failed to provide direct visual evidence of the aneurysm. The arteriographic diagnosis was then that of a femoro-popliteal thrombosis, of stenosis or isolated popliteal thrombosis. In all these difficult cases, echotomography is essential to diagnosis. The authors feel that indications for surgery should be as wide as possible. They consider that there are three types of contraindications: an excessively precarious physical condition, absence of a distal vascular network, an asymptomatic thrombosed popliteal aneurysm.