POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSM

Course overview

A POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSM IS DEFINED AS A FOCAL DILATION IN THE ARTERY, WITH THE LARGEST DIAMETER BEING MORE THAN 50% OF THE NORMAL. THESE FOCAL DILATIONS ARE CLASSIFIED AS EITHER FUSIFORM OR SACCULAR. POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS 40% TO 50% OF THE TIME. THEY ARE USUALLY ASYMPTOMATIC, BUT MAY PRESENT WITH CHRONIC SYMPTOMS DUE TO MASS EFFECT. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE RISK FACTORS, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF RUPTURED POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSMS AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.