Compression syndrome of the popliteal vein and artery caused by popliteal cyst

Popliteal vein compression caused by popliteal cyst was detected in 53-year-old man with venostasis of the lower limb. Deviation of the popliteal artery was also demonstrated by arteriography. The cyst communicating with the knee joint and partly covered by the lining of synovial cells was totally excised without damage to the vein. An analysis revealed hyaluronic acid to be the major component of glycosaminoglycan in the cyst and was 3 or 4 times in excess of that in the synovial fluid. The postoperative course was uneventful and symptoms were almost relieved.

Admittance plethysmographic evaluation of undulatory massage for the edematous limb

A new apparatus, called Hadomer has been developed for the treatment of peripheral lymphedema and venous disorder. It has cuffs with 5 rooms, through which the air pressure moves from periphery to proximal point, just like surging waves. The peripheral stagnant lymph and venous blood are displaced toward the heart by this pneumatic massage. Hadomer has been applied to more than 400 patients with the edematous limbs, with satisfactory results, such as decrease of swelling, pain and induration. These clinical results have been also confirmed by electrical admittance plethysmography which is useful to measure noninvasively the edematous volume and the blood flow. The admittance of the edematous limbs is high and after massaging with Hadomer it approaches normal range. The blood flow in the diseased limbs is less than the healthy one and it is observed better after pneumatically massaging.