Popliteal aneurysm: sinister harbinger of sudden catastrophe.

A series of twenty-eight aneurysms of the popliteal artery is reviewed. The cases were collected from the records of two large hospitals each with a unit with a special interest in vascular surgery. They are uncommon--only 1 popliteal aneurysm to every 17 aneurysms of the abdominal aorta--but one-third of our patients had both types of aneurysm present. The majority of patients had symptoms and 7 lost a leg as a direct result of thrombosis or rupture. The results of treatment were best when saphenous vein was used to replace an uncomplicated aneurysm and, since the behaviour of aneurysms is unpredictable, we conclude that this is the treatment of choice.