Symptomatic Popliteal Artery Aneurysms in Recently SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients: The Microangiopathic Thrombosis That Undermines Treatment

Abstract

Background: Arterial and venous thrombosis are complications in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. The microangiopathic thrombosis in affected patients can compromise results in urgent limb revascularizations. Aim of our study is to report on the incidence of symptoms development in patients affected by popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) and to analyze the effect of COVID-19 infection on outcomes. Methods: Data on patients surgically treated for PAA from the massive widespread of COVID-19 vaccine (March 2021) to March 2022 were prospectively collected. Factors considered for analysis were: presence of symptoms, aneurysm diameter and length, time from symptom onset and hospital referral, ongoing or recently COVID-19 infection. Outcomes measures were: death, amputation, and neurological deficit. Results: Between March 2021 and March 2022, 35 patients were surgically treated for PAA. Among them 15 referred to our hospital for symptomatic PAA and were urgently treated. Urgent treatments included both endovascular procedures and open surgeries. Nine out of 15 symptomatic patients had an ongoing or recently recovered COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 infection was strongly associated to symptoms development in patients affected by PAA and to surgical failure in those patients (OR 40, 95% CI 2.01–794.31, p = 0.005). Conclusion: In our series, presence of COVID-19 infection was strongly associated to ischemic symptoms onset and to complications after urgent treatment in symptomatic patients.

Open Surgical Conversion of Popliteal Endograft Infection: Case Reports And Literature Review

“…It firstly involved the surrounding stent area causing local symptoms (pain, edema, swelling) but it quickly could become a systemic infection, compromising and failing multiple organs and leading to death. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose and eradicate infection as quickly as possible [15]. The timeline of onset symptoms could suggest the principal causes of this terrible complication and as already described in our review of the literature, it is wide-ranging.…”

Case Report: COVID-19 exacerbates acute lower limb ischemia in patients with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

“…Interestingly, this case reported that the patient developed intermittent claudication 1 week after COVID-19 infection and had no symptoms before that. At present, some studies have reported that patients with COVID-19 have arteriovenous thrombosis (11)(12)(13)(14). COVID-19 causes endothelial cell damage, exposes collagen, causes coagulation activation, and then induces thrombosis (11)(12)(13)(14).…”

“…At present, some studies have reported that patients with COVID-19 have arteriovenous thrombosis (11)(12)(13)(14). COVID-19 causes endothelial cell damage, exposes collagen, causes coagulation activation, and then induces thrombosis (11)(12)(13)(14). Generally speaking, the abnormal fibrous band crossing the superficial surface of the popliteal artery in patients is innate.…”