Page 1 :
POPLITEAL ANEURYSM, Popliteal aneurysm are the commonest peripheral aneurysm., Approximately half are bilateral and half are associated with aortic aneurysm., 5 to 10% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm have Popliteal aneurysm., The majority of Popliteal aneurysm present with distal ischemic complications in either, acute or chronic situation., When presenting Acutely with distal limb ischemia, limb loss occur in 50% of cases., PAs occur almost exclusively in Males., Popliteal aneurysm are usually easy to identify as an expensive or prominent, pulsation, in Popliteal fossa., The artery is best palpated against the tibia in the midline of Popliteal fossa, with the, knee in extended position., The artery can also be palpated with the knee flexed to 130 degree., It is important to access the distal circulation for evidence of embolization into the foot or, calf muscles., Other posterior knee Swelling include a Baker's cyst or a semi membranous bursa., Baker's cyst originates below the level of knee joint as it extends beneath the, gastroenemius muscle., A Baker's cyst will often be associated with symptoms and sign suggestive of, Degenerative arthritis of knee joint., When present, an enlarged semi membranous bursa will be located medially under the, Popliteal edge of semi membranous muscle., In the acute situation, PAs usually present with distal ischemia as a consequence of, acute thrombosis or distal embolization., In chronic situations they present with intermittent claudication as a result of chronic, embolization to the tibial vessels., Asymptomatic PAs are often identified when screening patients with known aortic, aneurysm., Rupture of a PA is relatively rare occurance<5%., Other rare presentation result from local pressure on surrounding nerves and/or, Popliteal vein and they can be cause of DVT., The Popliteal artery commences when the femoral artery passes through the adductor, hiatus in the thigh., The vessel terminates as it splits into anterior tibial artery and tibioperoneal trunk at, lower border of popliteus muscle., The Popliteal artery gives off genicular branches.

Page 2 :
The tibial nerves lies Superficial to popliteal vein., Most surgeon would treat PAs exceeding 2 cm in diameter., Distal embolization is a strong indicator of treatment, irrespective of aneurysm size., Catheter based thrombolysis is associated with higher risk of ischemic complications., , END OF POPLITEAL ANEURYSM….