Abstract
Accurate identification of arterial injury in the emergency setting constitutes one of the essential prognostic factors in patients presenting with acute popliteal arterial injury (APAI). The modalities of angioscopy performed intraoperatively by the vascular surgeon, including the details of how angioscopy can contribute to therapeutic decisions in this setting, are presented. Between June 1987 and August 1993, 26 patients presenting with 27 APAIs (one patient had a bilateral APAI) were treated at our institution. Eighteen (67%) lesions were due to closed trauma, three (11%) to shotgun pellets, three (11%) to knife wounds, two (7%) to iatrogenic wounds, and one (4%) to a bullet wound. Between June 1987 and January 1992 (group I, n=20), treatment consisted of 15 (75%) saphenous vein bypasses and five (25%) local repairs. Pre- or intraoperative arteriograms were obtained in 14 (70%) cases. Three (15%) major amputations were required after popliteal reconstruction. Between February 1992 and August 1993 (group II, n=7), two (29%) saphenous vein grafts and five (71%) local repairs were performed after routine intraoperative angioscopy. Arteriograms were obtained in six (86%) instances. No amputations were necessary in this group. As a complement to arteriography, intraoperative angioscopy can determine the extent and number of injuries, provides direct visualization of the intima of the entire femoropopliteal artery, even when the latter is obscured by thrombus, and ensures a final control of popliteal artery repair at completion. After angioscopy, local repair was possible more often (71% vs. 25%,p = 0.03) and treatment was associated with a better functional result (0% vs. 15% amputation rate,p = 0.04) in group II.
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Alimi, Y., Lempidakis, M., Hartung, O. et al. Acute popliteal arterial injury: The role of angioscopy. Annals of Vascular Surgery 9, 361–368 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139408
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139408