Spontaneous popliteal artery dissection: a case report and review of the literature

Spontaneous arterial dissection of a peripheral artery involving an extremity is a rare event. We report a case of atraumatic, nonaneurysmal dissection of the popliteal artery that occurred in a 62-year-old man who was admitted with progressive right lower-extremity claudication. Preoperative arteriography was suggestive of arterial dissection, and surgical treatment was undertaken before irreversible ischemia developed. Intraoperatively, a dissection of the popliteal artery was observed, and the patient underwent femoral-popliteal bypass grafting with the ipsilateral, greater saphenous vein and the popliteal artery was ligated distal to the dissection. Spontaneous dissection limited to the popliteal artery has not previously been reported in the literature. Successful management depends on consideration of the diagnosis, particularly when other, more common diseases have been excluded.