Endovascular Treatment in the Subclavian Steal Syndrome: Series of 29 Patients

Subclavian steal syndrome is a group of symptoms resulting fromretrograde flow in the vertebral artery, "stealing" blood from the posterior intracranial circulation and other territories, caused by stenosis or occlusion of the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the same vertebral artery, or even of the brachiocephalic trunk. Most of the time, it is an incidental finding in patients with other conditions or cerebrovascular risk factors. We report a series of 29 patients with an angiographic diagnosis, in which 7 received treatment (all endovascular), all with symptoms directly related to this condition. Advanced age, systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and stroke were comorbidities frequently related. Six patients improved completely after the procedure and one remained with vertigo.

Endovascular Treatment in the Subclavian Steal Syndrome

When the proximal occlusion or stenosis of the subclavian or of the brachiocephalic artery may require distal arterial filling through reversal flow from the vertebral artery, causing clinically significant blood supply reduction to the brainstem, it is called subclavian steal syndrome (SSS). We report a 54-year-old male patient who presented with multiple episodes of syncopes and vascular claudication due to right SSS. He underwent an angioplasty, evolving with complete improvement of the symptoms. We review the clinical presentation, the diagnosticmethods, and the treatment options of the disease.

Relationship of inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference with subclavian artery stenosis and vertebral artery stenosis in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the association of inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference (IASBPD) with carotid artery stenosis, subclavian artery stenosis and vertebral artery stenosis in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Methods: A total of 141 patients (29 females, 112 males; mean age 71.2±10.4 years; range 47 to 92 years) who underwent carotid endarterectomy between September 2010 and December 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. We classified patients into four groups according to the IASBPD ˂ 10 mmHg, ≥ 10 mm Hg, ≥ 20 mmHg and ≥ 30 mmHg. The stenosis of both subclavian and vertebral arteries was considered as ≥ 50%. Results: Of the 141 patients, 44 (31.2%) had ≥ 10 mmHg, 29 (20.5%) had ≥ 20 mmHg and 4 (2.8%) had ≥ 30 mmHg of IASBPD. 26 patients (18.4%) were diagnosed with significant subclavian artery stenosis and 18 (69.2%) of them had more than 20 mmHg of IASBPD. Of the 29 patients with IASBPD ≥ 20 mmHg, 19 patients (65.5%) had a significant subclavian artery stenosis. We found a significant correlation between preoperative symptoms and subclavian artery stenosis (P=0.018) and overall perioperative stroke was seen more frequently in patients with subclavian artery stenosis (P=0.041). A significant positive correlation was observed between vertebral artery stenosis and subclavian artery stenosis (P=0.01). Conclusion: Patients who were diagnosed with both subclavian artery stenosis and IASBPD (≥ 20 mmHg) had a higher risk of postoperative stroke and death, had higher total cholesterol, LDL-C, blood creatinine level, and were more symptomatic.