Management of asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms: The use of a markov decision tree to determine the criteria for a conservative approach

A retrospective multicenter study of endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysm

“…In this regard, previous series describing femoropopliteal vein graft bypass have reported five-year graft patency rates ranging from 70% to 80% for femoropopliteal bypass using vein grafts. [7][8][9] These rates are slightly lower than the 36-month primary and secondary patency rates of 82.3% and 87.5%, respectively, observed in our series. Lovegrove et al 10 published a meta-analysis study describing outcomes of open repair and endovascular exclusion for PAA including procedure duration, length of hospitalization, and postoperative complications.…”

Outcomes of surgical management for popliteal artery aneurysms: An analysis of 583 cases

“…2,3 However, even a significant number of those initially asymptomatic will either develop symptoms at an appreciable rate per year or develop acute complications requiring emergent intervention. 8,[11][12][13] The few existing retrospective reviews that compare anticoagulation and expectant management versus surgical intervention tend to favor intervention. Dawson et al reviewed thirteen studies that included a total of 536 PAA managed conservatively, demonstrating that complication rates were 24% at one year and 68% at five years, with mean risk of ischemic complications of 36% (range, 8% to 100%).…”

“…Many of the existing series seem to support early surgical intervention given the threat of acute limb ischemia. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Even when PAA are initially asymptomatic, patients will develop symptoms at a mean rate of 14% per year (range, 5% to 24%), 11 and one-third will develop complications requiring emergent intervention within five years, resulting in poorer outcomes for both life and limb. 12 In patients selected for anticoagulation and/or routine surveillance due to small aneurysm size (2 to 3 cm) or coexisting cardiovascular or malignant disease thought to be lifelimiting, 33% to 45% eventually needed surgical management anyway.…”

Peripheral Artery Aneurysm

“…25 Left untreated, asymptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms cause complications in 60% to 75% of patients at 5 years. Approximately one-third of patients go on to develop acute ischemia either from thrombosis of the aneurysm or distal embolization.…”