Stent-graft repair of popliteal artery aneurysms.

Aim. The aim of this study was to present our experience evaluating the effectiveness and durability of popliteal artery aneurysms treatment with stent-graft. Methods. In the last 6-years, 15 patients aged 72±7 (range 57-85) with 16 popliteal artery aneurysms underwent stent-graft repair. Aneurysm diameter was 44±20 mm (range 20-90), and mean length was 58±24 mm (range 18-90). Fourteen patients were symtpomatic: 5 aneurysms presented with acute thrombosis. All the procedures were performed in the theatre under loco-regional anesthesia. Results. Primary technical success in placing the stent-graft and excluding the aneurysm was 100%; early oc- clusion was never observed. During a mean follow-up of 22.7 months (range 6-60), 6 late occlusions occurred; 3 patients underwent conversion to conventional femoro- distal bypass after a mean period of 12-months, 2 patients underwent major amputation, and 1 aneurysm was managed conservatively. Four patients died during the follow-up for procedure unrelated causes. Overall, primary patency rates at 1, 3 and 5-years were 84.6%, 63.4% and 47.6%, respectively. Conclusion. Our experience suggests that endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms is feasible with initial acceptable results, but have lower long-term patency rates than conventional surgery have been recorded