What are the symptoms of popliteal artery aneurysm and what should patients eat?

Aneurysm is a very dangerous disease, and it can occur in many places. One of them is called popliteal artery aneurysm, which is also very harmful. What are the symptoms of popliteal artery aneurysm? What should patients eat more?

What are the symptoms of a popliteal artery aneurysm?

1. Pulsating mass in the popliteal fossa: 48% of patients can feel the mass and provide a complaint. Those who cannot complain of the presence of a mass are mostly obese, have ankylosing joints, and are elderly patients. During examination, the mass is easier to palpate in the flexed knee position. The mass may be pulsating, or it may not pulsate because the tumor is filled with blood clots.

2. Ischemia of the foot and calf: It is the most common symptom of popliteal artery aneurysm, which may include intermittent claudication, rest pain, ulcer formation and even gangrene. The former accounts for 45%, and the latter three together account for 38%. The cause of limb ischemia is thrombosis in the tumor body. The mural thrombus continues to thicken and can completely block the tumor. Secondary thrombosis may also occur in the distal branches of the popliteal artery. Due to the movement of the knee joint, the mural thrombus falls off, causing repeated embolism in the distal segment of the artery.

3. Compression of adjacent tissues: The popliteal artery is originally closely adjacent to the popliteal vein and tibial nerve. When the aneurysm grows, it first compresses the popliteal vein, causing reflux obstruction, calf edema, and even thrombosis in the vein (13%). When the tumor further grows, it can compress the tibial nerve (6.4%), causing pain and motor dysfunction.

4. Rupture and bleeding: It is very rare. Evans reported that among 187 popliteal artery aneurysms, only 4 aneurysms ruptured, accounting for 2.2%. Makhoul counted 7 reports in 1997 and found that the rupture rate of popliteal artery aneurysms was less than 5%.

What should patients eat more?

Eat more fruits and less salt. For example, vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, eat more fish, fish can help relax arteries or dilute blood, it is okay to eat more of this.