Bilateral Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: An Approach to Diagnosis and Salvage

Abstract EN

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a rare cause of limb-threatening vascular disease.

Usually, it arises from aberrant embryological development or acquired dysfunctionality of the popliteal artery and its surrounding musculotendinous structures in the popliteal fossa.

Here, we present a case report of a young woman with relatively sudden-onset short-distance claudication and paraesthesia affecting her right leg primarily.

She had no recent traumatic history and no atherosclerotic risk factors and was otherwise previously very active.

She had a feeble right popliteal artery pulse and no foot pulses.

Nerve conduction studies demonstrated no electrophysiological abnormalities.

Following computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance imaging, it was determined she had type 2 PAES.

Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical division of a lateralised head of her medial gastrocnemius, resection of her fibrosed popliteal artery, and repair with a reversed long saphenous vein interposition graft.

Following surgery, her symptoms resolved, and she remains on aspirin and ultrasound surveillance.