Acute Pulmonary Embolism Due to Popliteal Venous Aneurysm

Abstract

Popliteal venous aneurysm is rare and usually asymptomatic. Here we report a case of surgically treated popliteal venous aneurysm diagnosed due to pulmonary embolism with cardiopulmonary arrest. A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency service due to cardiopulmonary arrest. She was resuscitated with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support and CT scan demonstrated a pulmonary embolism. Ultrasonography and MRI revealed a right popliteal venous aneurysm, approximately 60 mm in diameter, filled with massive thrombi that caused a pulmonary embolism. Inferior vena cava filter was temporally placed and the venous aneurysm was successfully resected. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was admainistered anticoagulant therapy with warfarin. Once pulmonary embolism is diagnosed, a popliteal venous aneurysm should be ruled out as the precipitating cause.