THROMBOSED POPLITEAL ANEURYSM

Course overview

POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSMS ARE TRUE ANEURYSMS AS THEY INVOLVE ALL LAYERS OF THE ARTERIAL WALL. ANEURYSMAL DILATION OF THE POPLITEAL ARTERY IS DEFINED AS ENLARGEMENT OF THE ARTERY TO 1.5 TIMES THE NORMAL DIAMETER. THUS, WITH A NORMAL DIAMETER RANGING BETWEEN 0.5CM AND 1.1CM, A POPLITEAL ARTERY IS CONSIDERED ANEURYSMAL AT 1.5CM OR GREATER. IN ADDITION TO GENERATING EMBOLI LEADING TO ACUTE LIMB ISCHEMIA, THESE ANEURYSMS ARE PRONE TO FILLING WITH MURAL THROMBUS WHICH CAN OCCLUDE THE ARTERY. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF THROMBOSED POPLITEAL ANEURYSMS, REVIEWS MANAGEMENT OPTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.