Endovascular Occlusion of a Ruptured Popliteal Artery Aneurysm

Popliteal artery aneurysms are the most common of the peripheral aneurysms. Rupture is a rare complication of these aneurysms. Here we present a case of a ruptured popliteal aneurysm in a patient with severe joint disease and immobility due to rheumatoid arthritis. The condition was treated endovascularly with an Amplatzer arterial occlusion device. The aneurysm was successfully thrombosed without inducing critical limb ischemia, as the distal popliteal was chronically occluded. Ligation of peripheral aneurysms is an infrequent treatment without simultaneous bypass graft placement. Endovascular occlusion of ruptured popliteal aneurysms should be considered a valid therapeutic strategy where exclusion bypass is not required due to distal arterial occlusion.