Ten years' experience in endovascular repair of popliteal artery aneurysm using the Viabahn endoprosthesis: a report from two Italian vascular centers

Abstract

Background: Although rare, popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are the most commonly observed peripheral arterial aneurysms. Surgical repair is considered the gold standard, even if with debated results. The aim of our study is to evaluate the outcome of endovascular treatment of PAAs using the Viabahn peripheral endograft (W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ) in 2 high-volume Italian centers.

Methods: All consecutive PAA patients treated by endovascular procedures between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. True atherosclerotic aneurysms, symptomatic and asymptomatic, were included in the analysis. All patients were treated by high-skilled vascular surgeons. The outcome measures were graft thrombosis, reintervention rate, and limb salvage at early and long-term follow-up.

Results: Fifty-three PAAs were treated. Patients were more frequently male (98.1%) with a mean age of 73.6 ± 7.8 years. Twelve patients (22.6%) were symptomatic and in 8 of them a local fibrinolysis was required before definitive surgery. Mean PAA diameter was 30.9 ± 10.9 mm (range 17-60). Fifty-two patients (98.1%) had at least 1 patent runoff vessel. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Overall, 80 stent grafts were deployed and in 21 patients (39.6%) more than 1 stent graft was deployed. In-hospital mortality rate and 30-day reinterventions were null. At a mean follow-up of 37.4 ± 29.3 months, primary patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage were respectively 73.6%, 92.4%, and 100%.

Conclusion: In our limited, retrospective experience, the endovascular treatment of PAA by Viabahn stent graft allowed satisfactory technical and clinical results even at long-term follow-up.