Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome Successfully Treated by Simple Release of the Popliteal Artery, Thrombectomy, and Endarterectomy: A Case Report

Abstract

An adolescent was referred to our hospital with intermittent claudication. The right popliteal artery was extrinsically compressed by the gastrocnemius muscle and was occluded by a thrombus, as shown by computed tomography angiography. The patient was diagnosed with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. The patient was successfully treated with popliteal artery release and myotomy of the aberrant medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, thrombectomy, and endarterectomy. In cases where the fibrotic change in the popliteal artery is not severe, whether popliteal artery reconstruction or bypass surgery with musculotendinous sectioning should be performed is controversial.