Combined percutaneous endovascular and open surgical approach in the treatment of a persistent sciatic artery aneurysm presenting with acute limb-threatening ischemia--a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a continuation of the internal iliac artery into the popliteal-tibial vessels and provides the major supply to the lower limb bud in early embryologic development, and its remnants participate in the formation of the inferior gluteal, deep femoral, popliteal, peroneal, and pedal vessels. When the femoral artery develops, the PSA involutes. In rare circumstances it persists and has a bilateral location in 22% of cases of PSA. This rare vascular anomaly is associated with aneurysmal formation in 15% to 46% of cases. Persistent sciatic artery aneurysm (PSAA) was first described in 1864. At present 87 cases, including this case, have been reported in the international literature. The authors describe a patient affected with PSAA and treated with a combination of thrombolysis, arterial reconstruction, and aneurysm embolization in a staged fashion. Embryology, anatomy, pathology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare disease are briefly discussed.