Atherosclerotic Popliteal Aneurysms

Abstract

A review of 11 patients with 19 popliteal aneurysms is presented. Seven episodes of acute ischæmia due to thrombosis of the popliteal aneurysm necessitated major limb ampzitation in five patients, in spite of attempts to save the limb by sympathectonzy or vein‐bypass grafting. Conversely, in 11 limbs with asymptomatic aneurysms, large aneurysms causing pressure symptoms, or aneurysms with distal embolization, all aneurysms were reconstructed with a bypass graft. All but one limb survived for periods ranging froin four months to four years. One patient was considered unfit for surgcry on medical qrounds.