Purpose: This technical note aims to show a challenging endovascular treatment approach of a giant and tortuous ruptured popliteal artery aneurism.
Materials and methods: An 86-year-old male patient was admitted for acute lower right limb ischemia. Angio-MSCT showed highly calcified superficial femoral artery, with a 180° bend in distal portion, followed by a large popliteal aneurism (63 × 61 mm) with a large extent hematoma (142 × 112 × 104 mm). Endovascular approach was chosen due to high morbidity.
Results: Anterior puncture of right superficial femoral artery was performed under ultrasound guidance. Despite various intents, the 0.035 hydrophilic coated wire could not be crossed distally through the aneurism. Retrograde access was performed via tibio-peroneal trunk under fluoroscopic guidance with a micropuncture set. A stiff 0.035″ Glidewire® was successfully advanced into the proximal portion of the aneurism through a 5F vertebral catheter externalized with a snare from the femoral sheath obtaining a "through-and-through wire" technique. Tightening of both ends of the wire helped gain support and straightened curves. Two stent grafts were implanted with no residual leak at 1 month follow-up.
Conclusion: Anterograde and retrograde approach was useful to perform a through-and-through wire technique in a challenging case of a tortuous ruptured popliteal artery aneurism.
Keywords: acute limb ischemia; endovascular treatment; ruptured popliteal artery aneurism; stent graft; through-and-through wire technique.