An unusual complication of bypassed popliteal aneurysms

The most common treatment of popliteal aneurysms is bypass and in situ ligation of the aneurysm. Two patients treated in this manner continued to have enlargement of their aneurysms, with symptomatic vein and nerve compression in the popliteal space. The aneurysms persisted because of failure to ligate arterial branches arising from the aneurysm itself. These recurrences were treated successfully by ligating the branches from within the aneurysm and obliterating the aneurysmal sac.