Persistent sciatic artery presenting with limb ischemia

Abstract

The persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare but clinically significant congenital vascular anomaly. Clinical presentation varies and PSA can cause a number of complications, including limb loss. We describe the presenting features and treatments in two patients. The former was found to have thrombosis of a PSA with distal thromboemboli and was treated with a bypass graft. The latter was treated for an ischemic foot following successful ruptured aortic aneurysm repair and was found incidentally to have patent PSA with concomitant stenosis of the common iliac artery, which was successfully treated with stent grafting.