| pubmed-article:9102006 | pubmed:abstractText | 217 patients with 349 popliteal aneurysms (PA) were studied. 45% presented with symptomatic complications, mainly thrombosis (21% acute, 15% chronic) and embolisation (7%). The mean diameter was significantly larger in acutely thrombosed (2.69 cm) than in patent PA (2.15 cm). The amputation rate in patients requiring emergency treatment was 36.1% after 2 years. The difference to patients undergoing bypass surgery in an asymptomatic stage (4-year graft patency 89%, limb salvage 100%) is highly significant. Of 128 PA treated conservatively, 53% were free of complications after 5 years. We conclude that prophylactic surgery of PA is justified in cases at high risk of developing complications, but that characteristics of those cases are not yet well defined. | lld:pubmed |
