Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: report of two cases

Abstract

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome accounts for an important part of correctible causes of claudication and limb ischemia in young people. It is caused by an abnormal relation between the popliteal artery (PA) and the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The diagnosis should be considered in any patient under 50 with calf claudication. The mainstay of treatment is prevention of PA fibrosis because if left untreated, the syndrome leads to irreversible damage to the PA with thrombosis and limb ischemia. We describe two cases of different types in 21- and 27-year-old males, respectively, and we review the literature about the presentation, diagnosis, classification and management of this entity.