A Rare Case of Bilateral Popliteal Artery Occlusion

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common condition of the upper and lower extremities caused by atherosclerosis. It is often accompanied by symptomatic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and is a major risk factor for amputation of an extremity. Timely diagnosis and intervention can prevent morbidity in these patients. We describe a case of a 48-year-old man with multiple co-morbidities who presented to our emergency department (ED) complaining of acute onset of bilateral leg pain. He was found to have bilateral acute popliteal artery occlusion confirmed by angiography of the lower limbs. Treatment was started early, right after reaching the provisional diagnosis. Popliteal artery occlusion is quite common, but it becomes a rare diagnosis when it happens bilaterally. Detailed evaluation of the peripheral arterial circulation and an early diagnosis seem to be important in the ED management of these patients.