Bilateral Persistent Sciatic Artery Associated with Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm: Case Report

A case of bilateral persistence of the sciatic artery in association with a DeBakey type III dissecting aortic aneurysm is presented. Arteriography demon strated a patent persistent left sciatic artery with an aneurysm, and this artery connected to the popliteal artery. The sciatic artery was also present on the right side but had been occluded in the pelvis, so the hypoplastic superficial femoral artery provided the main route to the popliteal artery. Aneurysm or occlusion of a sciatic artery is common. However, the combination of a dissecting aortic aneurysm and a persistent sciatic artery has never been reported previously. When a persistent sciatic artery provides the main blood supply to the lower limb, anticoagulant therapy is recommended to prevent its occlusion.