Methods: We performed 22 procedures on 21 patients (19 males 2 females; mean age 53.9±17.3 years; range 25 to 80 years) for popliteal artery aneurysm in our clinic from February 1995 to June 2008. Of these 22 procedures four (18.2%) were urgently and the remaining 18 (81.8%) were electively performed. The aneurysm was exposed medially in 19 (86.4%) and posteriorly in three (13.6%) of the patients. Surgical reconstruction was performed by means of saphenous vein graft bypass in seven (31.8%) and prosthetic graft interposition in 15 (68.2%) patients.

Results: Eighteen patients who were operated on because of popliteal artery aneurysm were discharged without any complications. In one patient with ischemia who was operated on an emergency basis (4.5%), an amputation above the knee had to be done due to the failure to correct the limb ischemia. In another patient operated on an emergency basis (4.5%), who had dropped foot, the compartment syndrome developed postoperatively, but his motor function returned back to normal following fasciotomy and medical therapy and he was discharged free of complications. Wound infection was seen in two (9.1%) cases. There was no operative mortality. In the follow-up, two patients (9.1%) had graft occlusion and one of them (4.5%) had a reoperation.

Conclusion: The results of popliteal artery aneurysm repairs are better in asymptomatic patients compared with symptomatic patients. Amputation risk is higher in symptomatic cases. Elective surgery can be done with low operative risk and prolonged survival when the surgical timing is accurately made.