Endovascular Treatment with Primary Stenting of Acutely Thrombosed Popliteal Artery Aneurysms

Background Only anecdotal cases concerning primary stenting of thrombosed popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) without a preoperative intra-arterial thrombolysis are reported. We report our series of 6 patients treated with this technique. Methods Six male patients, aged between 63 and 88, came to our attention in the last 10 years for acute limb ischemia due to thrombosis of a PAA. In all the cases, immediate digital subtraction angiography was performed, the occlusion was crossed with an angiographic guidewire, and once an adequate distal landing zone was identified in the distal popliteal artery, a primary stenting was performed. Results Technical success was achieved in all the cases. One perioperative thrombosis leading to major amputation occurred, and the patient died 4 days later. The mean follow-up of the remaining 5 patients was 28.6 months, with a primary patency rate of 60% and a secondary patency rate of 80%. Conclusions Urgent primary stenting of acutely thrombosed PAAs is feasible and can represent an alternative solution to classical surgical approaches.