Popliteal aneurysm: a celebration of the bicentennial of John Hunter's operation

Analysis of the original documents on Hunter's operation revealed that Hunter himself never realized the theoretical implications of his operation, particularly that collateral circulation could develop following ligation of the main arterial trunk of a limb. This operation, however, marks a monumental step in the history of vascular surgery. Even though supplanted only one century later by Matas' obliterating endoaneurysmorraphy, this technique became the first efficient means of managing popliteal aneurysms, the prognosis of which had been absolutely disastrous until that time, leading to either amputation or death in most cases.