Long-term results of open repair of popliteal artery aneurysm

INTRODUCTION Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) are rare. Different surgical techniques for open surgical repair are possible. This study presents a single centre experience using open surgical repair with a medial approach (MA) and outlines differences between symptomatic (SLS) and asymptomatic (ALS) legs. METHODS Data collection was performed retrospectively. The investigation period was from 1 January 1996 to 1 January 2013. Patients presented in the Outpatient Department and received a questionnaire concerning their quality of life. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Mann-Whitney test and Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used for data analysis. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate limb salvage rates. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS We analyzed 16 ALS and 26 SLS with an average age of 63.5 ± 10 years. Preoperative ankle-brachial index (ABI) was 1.0 ± 0.2 for ALS (on control examination: 1.12 ± 0.24) and 0.08 ± 0.18 for SLS (on control examination 0.94 ± 0.14) (p < 0.05). Limb salvage rate was 100% for ALS and 86.7% for SLS (overall 93.3%). Primary patency rate for SLS was 85%, for ALS rate of 100%, respectively (overall 92.5%). ALS reached an average of 13.1 ± 2.7 points (SLS 11.4 ± 2.8) on a numeric point scale. CONCLUSION Open surgery is therapy and prevention of acute ischaemia all in one, especially for asymptomatic patients and delivers good long-term results. Endovascular therapies offer an alternative but long-term results are pending. Open surgery should still be considered as a gold standard therapy.