A peripheral artery aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of an artery outside the aorta, most often in the artery behind the knee (popliteal artery) or in the groin. It can cause a clot that blocks the artery or press on nearby structures. Peripheral artery aneurysm treatment includes monitoring or repair with surgery or a covered stent, and Dr. Walid Naser assesses it in Amman.
Note: If your leg suddenly becomes cold, pale and painful, or you lose feeling or movement in it, a clot may have blocked the artery. Go to the emergency department straight away.
Symptoms
An aneurysm may cause no symptoms and be found by chance. Possible signs include:
- A pulsing lump behind the knee or at the top of the thigh.
- Pain or swelling behind the knee.
- Leg pain when walking if a partial clot forms.
- Discoloured toes or small toe sores from tiny clots.
- A suddenly cold, pale, painful leg, which is an emergency.
Causes
It usually results from the artery wall weakening over time. Causes and risk factors include:
- Atherosclerosis and older age.
- Smoking and high blood pressure.
- An aortic aneurysm, as the two can occur together.
- Injury or a previous puncture of the artery, for example after some catheter procedures (false aneurysm).
- Inflammation or infection of the artery wall, which is less common.
Diagnosis
Your doctor checks the pulses in your limbs, then requests tests to measure the aneurysm and see if there is a clot inside.
- Doppler ultrasound.
- CT angiography.
- Checking the aorta and the other leg, as aneurysms can occur in more than one place.
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the size and location of the aneurysm and whether there is a clot or symptoms:
Your doctor will discuss when early repair may be advised to protect the limb, and which option suits your case.
- Regular scans for a small aneurysm without symptoms, with stopping smoking and blood pressure control.
- For some false aneurysms after a catheter procedure, guided compression or an ultrasound-guided injection depending on the case.
- Repair with a covered stent placed through a catheter in selected cases.
- Open surgery to tie off the aneurysm and create a bypass to carry blood around it.
- Treatment of a sudden clot if present, as described in arterial thrombosis treatment.
What to expect on the day and after
Repair is done in hospital, and the stay depends on the type of procedure. Your surgeon will explain what to expect in your case.
- Checks on the colour, warmth and pulses of the leg after the procedure.
- Care of the wound or puncture site.
- Taking your prescribed medicines.
- A gradual return to walking as instructed.
- Regular Doppler follow-up.
When to book an appointment
- You notice a pulsing lump behind the knee or in the groin.
- A doctor has told you that you have a peripheral artery aneurysm.
- A pulsing swelling appears where a catheter was previously inserted.
- You have an aortic aneurysm and want your other arteries checked.