Popliteal artery aneurysm means focal dilatation of this vessel and abnormal expansion of its wall (in the form of a protrusion), which leads to an increase in the lumen relative to the normal diameter of at least 150%.

This is a problem of the circulatory system, of which arterioles are a part and, according to ICD-10, its code is I72.4 (popliteal artery aneurysms and arterial layers of the lower extremities).

Epidemiology:

Popliteal artery aneurysm is a rare disease, and its frequency in the population is estimated to be 0.1-1%.

However, among peripheral arterial aneurysms, it is the most common:

Popliteal artery aneurysms account for 70-85% of aneurysms of the lower extremities.

As clinical statistics show, the prevalence of this disease increases with age, reaching a maximum incidence after 60-70 years.

The main patients (95-97%) are men (most likely because of their predisposition to atherosclerosis).

The presence of popliteal artery aneurysms of the popliteal artery in 7-20% of cases (according to other sources, in 40-50%) is associated with aneurysms of other vessels.

Especially, in individuals with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the incidence of popliteal artery aneurysms is 28% higher than in the general population.

In addition, in 42% of patients (according to other data, in 50-70%) a lateral or bilateral popliteal artery aneurysm was observed.

What is a popliteal artery aneurysm?

A peripheral popliteal artery aneurysm is a condition that occurs in the popliteal artery, which is positioned behind the knee joint and supplies blood to the lower limbs and turns abnormally dilated and weakened.

Popliteal artery aneurysms can be due to atherosclerotic plaques, a build-up of plaque at the internal walls of the artery, or by way of a connective tissue ailment including Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Popliteal artery aneurysms are more common in men and older adults, and they may no sign appear at the start. however, as popliteal artery aneurysms grow larger, popliteal aneurysms can compress the encircling nerves and vessels, leading to aches, numbness, and tingling within the lower limbs and foot.

In some instances, a clot may also shape in popliteal artery aneurysms and cause a blockage, which can lead to acute limb ischemia and tissue harm.

What is ICD-10 code for left popliteal artery aneurysm?

The ICD-10 code for popliteal artery aneurysm is I72.3.

This code falls under the category of “popliteal artery aneurysms and dissection of artery, unspecified site.”

The area of the peripheral arterial aneurysms is known through using extra codes that specify the affected site, in this case, “left popliteal artery.” the whole code might seem like this: I72.3 – Aneurysms and dissection of the artery, unspecified site, with “popliteal artery aneurysms” as the extra descriptive diagnosis.

How serious is a popliteal aneurysm?

Popliteal artery aneurysms are serious when bursting causing severe bleeding and may lead to shock also formation of clots over it may make it serious.

What are the symptoms of an aneurysm in your leg?

A popliteal artery aneurysms may not cause any noticeable symptoms.

The first symptom may be lower leg pain that occurs with walking (claudication).

Other signs and symptoms of artery aneurysms include:

• Knee pain.
• Lower limb pain.
• Swelling behind the knee.
• Pulsating feeling behind the knee.

What are popliteal artery aneurysm complications?

Popliteal arterial aneurysms can cause several complications, including:

• Blood clots: A clot can shape inside the peripheral artery aneurysms, leading to a blockage of vessels to the lower legs and foot. this could cause acute ischemic limb, tissue harm, and even gangrene.
• Embolism: portions of the clot can destroy and travel downstream, causing a blockage in smaller vessels within the lower limbs or foot.
• Rupture: In NOT common cases, popliteal artery aneurysms can rupture, causing intense bleeding and doubtlessly life-threatening complications.
• Nerve compression: because artery aneurysms (PAA) grow larger, it may compress the surrounding nerves, leading to pain, numbness, and tingling within the lower limbs and foot.
• Limbs ischemia: reduced flow to the lower limbs and foot can motivate tissue damage and lead to persistent ischemic limbs, which can cause aches, ulcers, and even amputation in severe cases.
• Pulmonary embolism: Clots that shape within peripheral popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) can travel to the lungs, inflicting a blockage in the pulmonary artery and doubtlessly existence-threatening complications.
• Cardiovascular complications: Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) are often associated with different cardiovascular sicknesses, together with atherosclerosis, which could increase the hazard of heart attack and stroke.

Early detection and treatment can assist save you from complications and enhance outcomes.

How to diagnose popliteal arterial aneurysm?

Popliteal artery aneurysm can be identified through a mixture of scientific history, physical exam, and diagnostic procedures.

Here are the most usual methods used for diagnosis:

• Medical records: Your healthcare provider will ask about your sign, medical records, and any danger factors for vascular ailment, inclusive of smoking, high pressure, or diabetes
• Physical exam: at some point during an examination, your healthcare provider will check the pulses on your legs and feet and search for any signs and symptoms of swelling or discoloration. They’ll also use a stethoscope to listen for abnormal sounds, which include a bruit, that may imply an artery aneurysm (PAA).
• Imaging exams: Imaging assessments, such as ultrasound, CT angiography, or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), are used to visualize the vessel and discover any abnormalities, which include an aneurysm.

Those assessments can also provide records of approximately the size, site, and shape of the popliteal artery aneurysm.

As soon as a peripheral popliteal artery aneurysm is identified, your healthcare provider will decide on the perfect treatment based totally on the size, location, and symptoms of the popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA), as well as your ordinary fitness and personal situations.

Options might also consist of observation and monitoring, medicinal drugs, open surgical restoration, or thrombectomy or embolectomy.

Early detection and remedy of a popliteal artery aneurysm help save you from complications and improve consequences.

How do you treat a popliteal arterial aneurysm and management of acutely thrombosed aneurysms?

• Observation and monitoring: If the popliteal artery aneurysm is small and now not inflicting any sign, it may be monitored with regular checks, including ultrasound or CT angiography, to test for any adjustments in length or form.

This approach is commonly used for patients who aren’t suitable applicants for surgical or endovascular repair, including older adults or people with other medical conditions.

• Medicinal drugs: we used medicinal drugs together with antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications which can be prescribed to control symptoms consisting of ache, numbness, or tingling inside the lower leg and foot, and to save clots from forming within the popliteal artery aneurysm.

Those medicinal drugs are prescribed in observation with monitoring.

• Endovascular Surgery Repair of aneurysms: Endovascular repair is a minimally invasive process that entails putting a stent graft within the peripheral popliteal artery aneurysm to boost the weakened artery partitions and prevent it from rupturing or causing other consequences.

This repair of aneurysms is achieved beneath nearby anesthesia and through a small incision in the groin or upper thigh.

Endovascular surgery repair of aneurysm is usually endorsed for patients who are top applicants for the manner and have a popliteal arterial aneurysm that is not too large or complicated.

• Open surgical repair of aneurysm: In instances in which the popliteal aneurysm is large or complex, or if endovascular surgery isn’t always viable or secure, open surgical restoration may be essential.

This includes making an incision in the leg doing away with the broken section of the artery aneurysm and replacing it with grafts manufactured from artificial material or a vein from any other part of the body.

Open surgical repair is normally finished underneath fashionable anesthesia and requires an extended recuperation time than endovascular restoration.

• Thrombectomy or embolectomy: If a clot has formed in the popliteal aneurysm or aneurysms (PAA), a thrombectomy or embolectomy may be accomplished to take away clots and restore flow.

That is commonly accomplished using minimally invasive techniques, which include a catheter-primarily based approach and can be combined with endovascular or surgically restored if important.

The choice depends on the scale, area, and symptoms of the popliteal aneurysm (PAA), as well as the patient’s average fitness and situation.

Early detection of popliteal artery aneurysm can assist prevent complications and enhance outcomes.

What are risks associated with each treatment option?

• Observation and monitoring: the principal hazard related to that is that the peripheral popliteal aneurysm may develop or rupture, main to doubtlessly life-threatening complications. but, this hazard is usually low for small popliteal aneurysms that do not cause any signs and symptoms.
• Medicinal drugs: the threat associated with medicinal drugs is bleeding, as those drugs can boost the risk of bleeding or bruising. In uncommon cases, those medicines also can cause more severe bleeding, along with gastrointestinal bleeding or bleeding within the brain
• Endovascular repair: The risks related to endovascular restoration include bleeding, infection, and damage to the artery or surrounding tissue.

There is also a hazard that the stent graft in popliteal aneurysms around the knee might also flow or come to be blocked, which may cause clots or other complications.

• Open surgical restore: The risks associated with open surgical restore of popliteal aneurysms around the knee encompass bleeding, infection, and damage to the artery or surrounding tissue.

There’s additionally a threat of complications related to anesthesia, which includes allergic reactions or breathing issues.

Restoration time is longer than with endovascular restoration of popliteal aneurysms, and there is a better hazard of wound complications, such as infection or bad healing.

• Thrombectomy or embolectomy: The risks related to thrombectomy or embolectomy consist of bleeding, contamination, and harm to the artery or surrounding tissue.

There is also a chance of dislodging clots and inflicting them to travel through the blood, which could cause similar blockages or complications.

It is essential to be aware that these dangers range from how it is common according to the specific patient and their occasions.

Your healthcare provider can help you apprehend the risks and benefits of every option and help you make a knowledgeable selection approximately your care.

Finally, you should know that dilation or bulge of arterial vessels specially located or occurring in the popliteal is very serious and you should seek our center for good management.