Case report and literature review of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Case Report: COVID-19 exacerbates acute lower limb ischemia in patients with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Non-traumatic lower limb ischemic diseases are extremely rare among young people. Clinically, they are mainly seen in the form of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES). In addition, with the prevalence of COVID-19 infection, more and more studies report that COVID-19 infection may lead to arteriovenous thrombosis, which could cause lower limb ischemia. This case reported that a 31-year-old male amateur football player who developed intermittent claudication after recovering from COVID-19. After 2 months of consultation, he was ultimately diagnosed with PAES. As is well known, PAES is mostly caused by long-term compression of the popliteal artery by abnormal anatomical structures, resulting in thickening of the vascular outer membrane and progression of the disease until intimal damage and thrombosis, leading to lower limb ischemia. During the progression of the disease, there may be multiple factors that accelerate its progression. Therefore, combined with the patient's clinical history and related studies on confirmed thrombosis caused by COVID-19, we can infer that COVID-19 could accelerate the occurrence of PAES.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon cause of lower extremity exertional claudication due to external compression of vascular structures in the popliteal fossa. A developmental anomaly due to an aberrant relationship of the artery with the surrounding myofascial structures contributes to the vascular compromise. PAES presents in younger, athletic patients without atherosclerotic risk factors. Typical presentation of unilateral or bilateral, intermittent claudication in the feet and calves specifically after exercise and relieved by rest in a young person should prompt further evaluation. Early diagnosis and intervention is essential for preventing thromboembolic complication and in worst cases limb loss. Initial tests with Ankle Brachial indices or Doppler ultrasound with provocative maneuvers will prompt more definitive cross sectional imaging studies. CTA or MRA also with provocative maneuvers has a high sensitivity and specificity and will clinch the diagnosis. There are six subtypes based on the relationship of the vascular structure with surround myofascial structures. CTA and MRA can characterize the subtypes and guide surgical planning. Catheter directed thrombolysis may be attempted adjunctively to reduce surgical thrombectomy or resolve distal emboli; however, myotendinous decompression with or without vascular repair is the definitive treatment. Long term surgical outcomes are satisfactory when the distal circulation is preserved.

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome in a Young Baseball Pitcher: A Case Report

Background

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a rare disease in young adults and is thought to be under-diagnosed, and its main cause is the abnormal structure between the popliteal artery and gastrocnemius muscle. The patients experience symptoms after the blood vessels are compressed. Failure to diagnose and treat PAES can cause serious sequelae.

Case

A 19-year-old male baseball pitcher with PAES type 2 suffered from left calf muscle tension and foot numbness and was mis-diagnosed for nearly a year. Finally, the lesion was detected by ultrasonography and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. After surgical intervention, he quickly returned to sport.

Discussion/Conclusion

PAES has 6 types. Type 2 (25%) and type 3 (30%) are the most common. Patients with this syndrome suffer from aching pain, numbness, and cramping in the calf area when they exercise. It is necessary to include this disease in differential diagnosis to implement early diagnosis, and ultrasonography is a more cheap and simple method for early detection.

Functional Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: A Review of Diagnosis and Management

BACKGROUND

Functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (FPAES) results from hypertrophied gastrocnemius, soleus, and/or plantaris muscles, without an identifiable anatomic abnormality. Historically, FPAES has been managed with surgical myotomy or myomectomy. Herein, we review the literature to evaluate the results of surgery along with a newer treatment (botulinum toxin A injection) for this rare form of claudication.

METHODS

A literature search in PubMed, Cochrane, and Ovid for studies reporting incidence and management of FPAES yielded 3391 publications; 2804 articles were excluded based on initially established exclusion criteria. Ultimately, data were extracted from six articles, from which the number of patients, demographic information, preoperative workup, surgical treatment details, follow-up imaging, and results of treatment were obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 133 patients were studied. Mean age was 26 years; 57% were female, and noninvasive testing revealed bilateral findings in 39%. Treatment involved surgical myotomy/myomectomy (98; five studies) and botulinum toxin injection (35; two studies). Adjunctive vascular reconstruction was performed in eight of the surgical cases. Patients with FPAES who underwent surgical management were evaluated subjectively for symptomatic improvement, and some patients had duplex ultrasounds in follow-up averaging 25.6 months. Three of 98 patients (3%) had recurrent symptoms, and seven (7%) underwent revision surgical procedures. Complications in the surgical management group included seroma/hematoma (4%, 4/98) and infection (2%, 2/98). For the botulinum toxin treatment group, improvement of symptoms was achieved in 66% of patients at an average follow-up time of ten months. Most patients treated with botulinum toxin did not undergo imaging in follow-up. No complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This review suggests FPAES may be treated successfully with surgical myotomy/myomectomy plus adjunctive vascular reconstruction if necessary. Botulinum toxin A injection may be useful as a diagnostic and therapeutic measure for FPAES.

Progesterone receptor expression in fibromuscular dysplasia: A report of two unusual cases

Fibromuscular dysplasia is rarely biopsied. Progesterone receptor expression in myofibroblastic cells is useful for the histopathological evaluation in difficult-to-diagnose cases. Herein, we report two unusual cases of fibromuscular dysplasia in which progesterone receptor expression was shown in vessel sections.

Intravascular ultrasound as a novel tool for the diagnosis and targeted treatment of functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, as the imaging modalities presently employed are designed to detect anatomic entrapment. We describe a novel imaging technique to aid in diagnosis in this cohort. A 22-year-old cyclist presented with exercise-limiting claudication. Magnetic resonance angiography with provocative maneuvers was nondiagnostic. Digital subtraction angiography revealed long-segment occlusion of the popliteal artery with plantar flexion; however, the specific site of compression remained unclear. Intravascular ultrasound allowed specific localization of compression and further confirmed the diagnosis. Thus, we report this as an adjunctive imaging modality to definitively diagnose functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome and to assist in operative planning.