Disappointing results of popliteal aneurysm endovascular treatment with a new self-expandable covered stent

• Published in: Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals 2024-05, Vol.32 (4), p.227-230
• Main Authors: Marone, Enrico Maria, Brioschi, Chiara, Barra, Chiara, Rinaldi, Luigi Federico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aneurysm - diagnostic imaging; Aneurysm - surgery; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - instrumentation; Computed Tomography Angiography; Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy; Endovascular Procedures - adverse effects; Endovascular Procedures - instrumentation; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Popliteal Artery - diagnostic imaging; Popliteal Artery - physiopathology; Popliteal Artery - surgery; Popliteal Artery Aneurysm; Prosthesis Design; Stents; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Patency
• ISSN: 0218-4923; 1816-5370
• DOI: 10.1177/02184923241251887

Purpose To describe our clinical experience of endovascular exclusion of popliteal artery aneurysms using the new self-expandable covered stent SOLARIS® (Scitech Medical, Brazil), and to report its results in the context of surgical and endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms. Case report Among 20 popliteal artery aneurysms undergoing open or endovascular repair in 2022 and 2023, two patients were successfully treated with the Solaris stentgraft. Both patients had a patent popliteal artery and three run-off vessels. After stentgraft implantation, they received dual antiplatelet therapy for three months and they were followed-up with Duplex scan and clinical evaluation after three months, and every six months thereafter. After three months, one Solaris stentgraft had complete thrombosis and the other ruptured, requiring surgical removal. No complications were observed among the other aneurysms treated with open repair or with the Viabahn® stentgraft. Conclusions Endovascular treatment of popliteal aneurysms with the new covered self-expandable stent Solaris resulted in severe complications in the two cases reported, and in worse short-term outcomes than endovascular repair with Viabahn® and open repair. Its off-label use to treat popliteal artery aneurysms should be therefore discouraged.