2018 Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 293-296
Popliteal venous aneurysm is a rare disease; however, it sometimes induces fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism. A 19-year-old man was struck in the right buttock, and this caused a huge hematoma that required surgical removal. He developed cerebral infarction and pulmonary embolism on the next day after surgery. Although anticoagulation therapy was initiated with heparin, severe cerebral infarction and pulmonary embolism recurred. Emergent computed tomography revealed deep vein thrombosis and popliteal venous aneurysm with thrombosis in his right leg, and transthoracic ultrasound revealed a patent foramen ovale with thrombus. Then, he was referred to our department to resect the popliteal venous aneurysm. He underwent surgical resection of the venous aneurysm, and no thrombotic events occurred after surgery. Since popliteal venous aneurysm potentially induces catastrophic thrombotic complications such as acute pulmonary embolism or paradoxical cerebral embolism, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment including surgical resection of the aneurysm is mandatory to avoid fatal thromboembolic events.
