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Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

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Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is a condition caused by direct compression of the popliteal artery as it passes within or exits the popliteal fossa. It is surprisingly uncommon and usually affects young patients, typically men, and often presenting with symptoms of claudication, or more rarely acute limb ischemia, calf cramps, or a picture of compartment syndrome. The diagnosis should be considered early within the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with these problems in this age group. The key to management of this condition lies in a high index of suspicion. The treatment of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is surgical. When the condition is detected at an early stage surgery may be limited to release of the artery alone. However, if the artery has been compressed for some time the resulting intimal damage necessitates bypass of the affected segment. There are numerous reports of thrombectomy with simple vein patching, but the results are inferior to interpositional vein grafting. Reports have also been published of attempts made at endovascular treatment. At present, this mode of management adds little to the definitive treatment of affected limbs and appears limited to use as a bridging procedure in cases presenting with limb ischemia. Unfortunately, an effective clinical screening test does not exist and imaging remains the mainstay in the diagnosis of symptomatic limbs and the screening of asymptomatic limbs. The exact modality of imaging remains unclear, but for the moment duplex scanning, angiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging all appear to have their place.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, PL6 8DH, Plymouth, UK

    Mark F. Henry FRCS, Denis C. Wilkins MS, FRCS & Anthony W. Lambert MS, FRCS (Gen Surg)

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  1. Mark F. Henry FRCS
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  2. Denis C. Wilkins MS, FRCS
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  3. Anthony W. Lambert MS, FRCS (Gen Surg)
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Henry, M.F., Wilkins, D.C. & Lambert, A.W. Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Curr Treat Options Cardio Med 6, 113–120 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-004-0039-y

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