TRANSFEMORAL ENDOLUMINAL STENTED GRAFT REPAIR OF A POPLITEAL ARTERY ANEURYSM

This report describes the use of an endoluminally placed stented graft to repair a large (2.6 by 2.6 by 15 cm) popliteal aneurysm in a 63-ye ar-old man with advanced heart disease. Two balloon-expandable stents were attached to a 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft, which was inser ted with the patient receiving local anesthetic through a proximal sup erficial femoral artery arteriotomy. Repeat arteriography and duplex u ltrasonography performed up to 3 months after the procedure documented graft and distal artery patency and complete aneurysmal exclusion wit hout distal emboli. This experience demonstrates technical feasibility and early graft patency. However, additional experience and follow-up will be needed to assess the value of this minimally invasive procedu re in the management of popliteal aneurysmal disease.