What is popliteal entrapment?

Overview. Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon condition in which an abnormally positioned or enlarged calf muscle presses on the main artery behind the knee (popliteal artery). The artery becomes trapped, making it harder for blood to flow to the lower leg and foot.

How is popliteal entrapment syndrome treated?

Surgery is the only way to correct the abnormal calf muscle and free the trapped artery. Your doctor will likely recommend surgery if your symptoms significantly affect your everyday or athletic activities.

What is popliteal stenosis?

Popliteal artery stenosis or occlusive disease is a common occurrence in elderly patients, diabetics, smokers and those with cardiovascular disease. It leads to significant morbidity and mortality by reducing or completely blocking blood supply through the popliteal artery and into the lower leg.

Can you feel popliteal artery?

Find the fleshy middle portion of the back middle of your knee. Doctors call this the “popliteal fossa.” Others call it the “kneepit” for short. Press with increasing pressure until you feel a pulsation in the back of the knee. The pulsation will feel like a heartbeat, usually steady and even in nature.

What does the popliteal artery do?

The popliteal artery provides blood supply to the soleus, gastrocnemius, plantaris, and distal portions of the hamstring muscles.

What causes popliteal pain?

Popliteal fossa pain is developed by a wide variety of causes. The most common causes are Baker’s cyst, soft tissue or bone tumor and injury to the meniscus, hamstring, popliteal tendon or ligament.

How long is the recovery time after popliteal bypass surgery?

You may need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days. You will need to take it easy for 2 to 6 weeks at home. It may take 6 to 12 weeks to fully recover. You will need to have regular checkups with your doctor to make sure the graft is working.

What size popliteal aneurysm requires surgery?

This is because the major morbidity from popliteal artery aneurysms is due to thromboembolism rather than rupture. Thus, symptomatic aneurysms require repair regardless of size. Other indications include aneurysms of any size that contain intramural thrombus and asymptomatic aneurysms that are >2 cm in size.

Can you feel the popliteal artery?

What does a popliteal DVT feel like?

The symptoms of a popliteal vein thrombosis include pain, swelling, and tenderness around the area of the clot. While the vein is closer to the surface of the skin in the back of the knee, a clot can form anywhere in the blood vessel. The skin over the affected area may also feel warm to the touch.

Are there different types of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome?

There are six different types of PAES: ​Type I — happens because of an abnormal course of the popliteal artery. Type II — happens because of an abnormal position of a nearby muscle​. Type III — happens because of an accessory slip of a nearby muscle and fibrous bands of tissue​.

What causes an enlarged popliteal artery behind the knee?

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon condition in which an abnormally positioned or enlarged calf muscle presses on the main artery behind the knee (popliteal artery). The artery becomes trapped, making it harder for blood to flow to the lower leg and foot.

What causes compression of the popliteal fossa?

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: It is caused by an anomalous relationship of muscle and artery in the popliteal fossa resulting in extrinsic arterial compression. Repetitive insult to the popliteal artery can cause arterial damage and lead to aneurysm, thromboembolism, and arterial thrombosis.

How does repetitive trauma affect the popliteal artery?

This repetitive trauma may result in stenotic artery degeneration, complete artery occlusion or even formation of an aneurysm . Love and Whelan proposed a classification of this pathology into four types, according to the various relationships between the popliteal artery and the muscles of the popliteal space.