Complex Endovascular Approach to Treatment of Patients With Aneurysm of Popliteal Artery and Acute Limb Ischemia

The 2nd Medical Department admits patients with acute arterial occlusion at the stage of critical limb ischaemia. The poorest prognosis considering preservation of the limb is shown by the patients who exhibit symptoms of ischaemia due to affected popliteal artery and arteries of the shank in the the popliteal artery aneurysm. On the other hand, diagnosis of this condition is prompt and easy (general ultrasound scan below the knee). Patients with the popliteal artery aneurysm, confirmed by ultrasound investigation, and concurrent signs and symptoms of acute critical ischaemia will be indicated for catheterization intervention at our unit, which will confirm morphological compatibility with endovascular occlusion of the aneurysm sac through implantation of a peripheral stent graft, supported by implantation of a peripheral flexible stent, and at the same time insertion of a thrombolytic catheter into the implanted stent graft for local thrombolysis of tibial arteries if required by the current situation. The patient will be hospitalized at the angiology intensive care unit of the 2nd Medical Department, where local intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy will be performed according to the standard protocol. After completion of the proper endovascular treatment, the patients will be transferred to combined peroral anticoagulation and antiaggregation treatment, and all of them will have an ultrasound scan below the knee, with the readings archived for the purpose of further comparison and monitoring. Subsequently, the patients will be monitored in the outpatient regime after 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. At each visit, clinical examination will be done including establishment of ABI/TBI values and ultrasound investigation of the region below the knee.