The popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the early and long- term results of vascular reconstruction for popliteal artery entrapment syn drome (PAES). Fourteen patients (18 legs) who underwent surgical treatment for PAES over a 10-year period were included. Seven patients underwent simp le myotomy and remained symptom-free for a 5- to 96-month follow-up period. Seven patients underwent myotomy and vein graft: the graft remained patent in four cases, in one case the graft thrombosed and was successfully reope rated on, and two patients remain asymptomatic without palpable pulses. Of the three patients with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, one is symp tom-free with a patent graft, one continues to present with intermittent cl audication (IC), whereas the third subsequently underwent above-knee amputa tion. PAES, a congenital abnormality, requires surgical treatment and any c onservative management may be deleterious. Early diagnosis is of utmost imp ortance because in the early stage, simple surgical procedure offers a perm anent therapeutic result. Thus, every young sportsperson, with even minor l ower extremity problems, should be examined by a vascular surgeon.