Background: Modality of elective repair (open or endovascular) of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) is still debated. About open repair no strict evidence exists about the best surgical technique. The aim of this study was to report a 20-year experience with ligation and in-situ saphenous vein bypass for the elective treatment of PAAs.
Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent elective open surgical PAA repair in our center between January 2001 and April 2020 was performed. Ninety-two limbs in 84 patients underwent a PAA ligation and in-situ saphenous bypass. Early (30 day) outcomes were assessed. Estimated 5-year outcomes according to Kaplan-Meier curves in terms of primary patency, primary assisted patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage were evaluated. Associations of patient and procedure variables with patency and limb salvage outcomes were sought with multivariate analysis.
Results: Patients were predominantly male (80/84, 95.2%) with a mean age of 73.1 years (range 50-89). In all cases technical success was obtained. The mean hospital stay was 5.8 days (range 2-27). Thirty-day overall mortality (N.=1) and major amputation (N.=1) rates were both 1.2%. Mean duration of follow-up was 31.3 months (range: 1-168). At 5 years estimated rates of primary patency, primary assisted patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage were 76.3%, 81.5%, 89.9%, and 96.6%, respectively. On multivariate analysis the associations were: primary patency with PAA diameter >30 mm (P=0.007), and poor run-off status (P<0.001); primary assisted patency with poor run-off status (P<0.001); secondary patency with poor run-off status (P=0.04). Major amputation had no independent predictors of poor outcomes.
Conclusions: Elective surgical treatment of PAAs with ligation and in-situ saphenous vein bypass is safe, effective and durable with good 5-year outcomes in terms of overall patency and limb salvage. Poor run-off status seemed to be an independent predictor of worse patency rates. This surgical technique should be cautiously applied in patients with PAAs with a diameter >30 mm.