Subclavian steal syndrome. Part 2: Intraoperative vertebral artery blood flow measurement.

Intraoperative vertebral artery blood flow was measured in two patients with symptomatic subclavian steal syndrome, before and after proximal end-to-side vertebral to common carotid artery transposition. This confirmed retrograde flow in the vertebral artery before transposition, and antegrade flow after transposition. The measured flow rates were compared to values in other series involving different operative procedures for correction of symptomatic subclavian steal. The greatest mean antegrade flow rates in the vertebral artery were restored by proximal end-to-side vertebral to common carotid artery transposition.     

Subclavian steal syndrome. Part 1: Proximal vertebral to common carotid artery transposition in three patients, and historical review.

Three patients with central nervous system symptoms due to subclavian steal syndrome were treated with proximal vertebral to common carotid artery transposition. Neurological symptoms were relieved or improved in all three, with no decrease in blood pressure or pulse in the ipsilateral upper extremity. The colorful history of this syndrome is reviewed, and the various surgical approaches to its treatment are discussed. Although the literature suggests that the commonly used carotid to subclavian artery bypass graft and other similar extrathoracic procedures are generally safe and effective for relief of symptoms of the steal, there is also evidence that these bypasses may fail to restore antegrade flow in the vertebral artery, and, in fact, may steal from the carotid artery. Thus, the blood flow provided to the brain by these procedure may be hardly more than that provided by vertebral artery ligation, whereas the principal effect is to restore blood flow into the upper extremity. Vertebral artery ligation alone has been used in 20 patients, with neurological improvement in all cases and production of persistent intermittent brachial claudication in only one. These considerations and our patient experience suggest that a relatively simple operation, proximal vertebral to common carotid artery transposition, which emphasizes restoration of flow to the brain rather than to the upper extremity, may be preferable for most patients with neurological symptoms of subclavian steal syndrome.     

Subclavian-carotid transposition for the subclavian steal syndrome

The clinical experience with twelve patients who underwent subclavian-carotid transposition for the subclavian steal syndrome is related. The technical details of the procedure as well as the satisfactory clinical results are described, and the characteristics making it our procedure of choice are summarized.     

微创治疗锁骨下动脉窃血综合征

目的 探讨经皮血管内成形术(PTA)及内支架置放术治疗锁骨下动脉窃血综合征(SSS)的疗效。方法 应用PTA及内支架置放术治疗因锁骨下动脉狭窄致SSS患者78例,单纯行PTA22例,行PTA加支架置放术56例。结果 78例患者手术全部获得成功。随访66例,随访时间1～71个月,平均27个月,随访率84．6％。随访病例经彩超及多普勒血流图检查,均未发生病变部位再狭窄,血流通畅良好,椎动脉均为正常血流,放置支架无脱落及移位。结论 PTA及内支架置放术治疗因锁骨下动脉起始段狭窄引起的SSS是一种创伤小、疗效满意、安全可行的微创治疗方法。     

微创治疗锁骨下动脉窃血综合征的探讨

目的:探讨经皮腔内血管成形术(PTA)及内支架置放术治疗锁骨下动脉窃血综合征(SSS)的疗效。方法:应用PTA及内支架置放术治疗锁骨下动脉狭窄所致SSS病人78例,其中单纯行PTA者22例,PTA加支架置放术56例。结果:78例病人全部获得成功。随访66例,随访时间1～71个月(平均27个月),随访率84.6%。随访病例经彩超及多普勒血流图检查,均未发生病变部位再狭窄,血流通畅良好,椎动脉均呈正常血流,放置支架无脱落及移位。结论:PTA及内支架置放术治疗锁骨下动脉起始段狭窄所引起的SSS是一种创伤小、疗效满意、安全可行的微创治疗方法,但操作应耐心、仔细和规范化。     

Concomitant subclavian and coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Proximal subclavian artery occlusive disease in the presence of a patent internal mammary artery used as a conduit for a coronary artery bypass graft procedure may cause reversal of internal mammary artery flow (coronary-subclavian steal) and produce myocardial ischemia. METHODS: We reviewed outcome to determine whether subclavian artery revascularization can provide effective protection from and treatment for coronary-subclavian steal. Between 1985 and 1997, 20 patients had either concomitant subclavian and coronary artery disease diagnosed before operation (group 1, 5 patients) or symptomatic coronary-subclavian steal occurring after a previous coronary artery bypass graft procedure (group 2, 15 patients). Patients in group 1 received direct subclavian artery bypass and a simultaneous coronary artery bypass graft procedure in which the ipsilateral internal mammary artery was used for at least one of the bypass conduits. Patients in group 2 received either extrathoracic subclavian-carotid bypass (5 patients, 33.3%) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (10 patients, 66.7%) as treatment for symptomatic coronary-subclavian steal. RESULTS: All patients were symptom-free after intervention. One patient treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting died of progressive renal failure. Follow-up totaled 58.5 patient-years (mean, 3.1 years/patient). In group 1, primary patency was 100% (mean follow-up, 3.7 years). In group 2, one late recurrence was treated by operative revision, yielding a secondary patency rate of 100% (mean follow-up, 2.9 years). CONCLUSIONS: Subclavian artery revascularization can provide effective protection from and treatment for coronary-subclavian steal with acceptably low operative risk. Midterm follow-up demonstrates good patency.     

Surgical reconstruction for subclavian arterial obstruction at its origin

The authors, having experienced 17 cases of subclavian arterial obstruction at its origin in Montpellier, France and in Japan, performed direct anastomosis between the divided end of the proximal subclavian artery and the ipsilateral common carotid artery (transposition technique) in 12 cases. Our series of 17 patients ranging in age from 30 to 73 years who were evaluated for variety of symptoms: 8 had subclavian steal syndrome; 12 had claudication of upper extremity; 1 had visual disturbance; 3 had vertigo; and 1 had ear throbbing. Twelve patients were treated surgically with division of the proximal subclavian artery and its anastomosis to the common carotid artery by means of supraclavicular cervicotomy. One was treated with carotid subclavian bypass grafting, and 4 were placed aorto-carotid-subclavian bypass grafting with median sternotomy because of the proximal occlusive lesions at the origins of common carotid and subclavian artery due to aortitis syndrome. All the patients were relieved from the symptoms which had been existed in pre-operative stage. The transposition technique is simple, effective and few complications.     

Subclavian steal syndrome and flow-related aneurysm. Another reason to treat.

A 48-year-old woman presented with a symptomatic right subclavian steal syndrome due to proximal subclavian artery stenosis. Anatomically the innominate artery was absent. Collateral circulation followed the vertebro-vertebral pathway with reversal of blood flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery. There was also multiple dilated intervertebral collaterals and an associated saccular aneurysm on one of them. Surgical carotid-subclavian transposition permitted relief of clinical symptoms, disappearance of collateral circulation and subtotal regression of the aneurysm. This spontaneous evolution confirmed the role of high-flow in the pathogenesis of some aneurysms and the habitually good prognosis of flow-related aneurysms with correction of the cause. Arteriography still appears essential in diagnosis, pretherapeutic assessment and sometimes post-treatment evaluation in subclavian steal syndrome.     

Das koronare Stealsyndrom

The internal mammary artery is being used more frequently for the revascularization of the coronary arteries in patients with angina pectoris. A stenosis of its donor vessel can result in a so-called coronary steal syndrome. The clinical and investigational aspects as well as the therapeutic options for this phenomenon are discussed. A 59-year-old man, active in sports, was suffering from renewed pain in the arm and angina pectoris when participating in sports after revascularization of the coronary arteries with the internal mammary artery. The reason for the recurrent complaints was a stenosis of the proximal left subclavian artery, which was successfully treated with PTA. The so-called coronary steal syndrome can be suspected clinically when the radial arterial pulse is decreased or absent and a significant fall in systolic blood pressure and a supraclavicular bruit are found. The diagnosis is confirmed by angiography. Percutaneous dilatation, mostly combined with primary stenting, is the therapy of choice in the treatment of a stenosis. The occluded subclavian artery is best treated surgically by transposition of the subclavian artery into the common carotid artery.     

Surgically induced carotid subclavian steal syndrome. Diagnosis by video dilution technique

A rare occurrence of carotid subclavian steal syndrome following carotid subclavian bypass for arm ischemia was described. Blood flows in the carotid artery and carotid subclavian bypass, at rest and following arm exercise, were determined by video dilution technique during the angiographic procedure. There was no obstruction of the inflow or outflow of the proximal or distal anastomoses to account for the steal (55%). Rather, increased arterial flow to the subclavian artery due to the patient's status as a bilateral amputee was thought to be the cause. The diagnosis and subsequent correction by takedown of this bypass and conversion to an axillary-to-axillary bypass were performed. Video dilution technique offers a unique and accurate way to study steal phenomena in conjunction with routine angiography and does not add to the patient's cost or risk.     

Simplified operative procedure for proximal subclavian arterial lesions: Direct subclavian-carotid anastomosis

An operative approach to treatment of proximal subclavian occlusive lesions was used in 11 patients with claudication of the arm, vertebrobasilar insufficiency or subclavian steal syndrome. Through a supraclavicular incision, the subclavian artery is isolated proximal to the vertebral origin, dissected from the periarterial tissue into the mediastinum and then clamped above the atherosclerotic lesion. The artery is transected and the proximal end closed. The distal portion of the subclavian is then anastomosed end-to-side to the common carotid either in front of or behind the internal jugular vein. This procedure, applicable to right or left subclavian occlusive or ulcerative lesions, is particularly advantageous since it avoids major thoracotomy and the use of prosthetic bypasses in the neck. Postoperative noninvasive and angiographic evaluation in this series of patients indicates that the technique is simple, effective and without complications, making it preferable to existing procedures.     

Subclavian steal with ipsilateral vertebral artery occlusive disease

The classical subclavian steal syndrome is a larcenous vertebrobasilar insufficiency, secondary to retrograde flow in the vertebral artery. The authors present their experience with an unusual variant of subclavian steal in which the ipsilateral vertebral artery was completely or partially occluded, or arose from the aortic arch. These patients had symptoms typical of vertebrobasilar insufficiency--dizziness or brain stem transient ischemic attacks--despite steal through relatively small cervical collaterals to the obstructed subclavian artery. Physical findings of diminished pulses and blood pressure in the involved upper extremity are similar to those in the common form of subclavian steal. The alternate collaterals found in these patients are documented by angiography and other potential collaterals are reviewed. All three symptomatic patients were treated successfully by carotid-subclavian bypass or anastomosis of the subclavian to the common carotid artery. They have remained asymptomatic for 1 1/2 to 3 years following operation. The potential for development of subclavian steal in the absence of a vertebral artery to provide collateral flow adds another reason for abandoning vertebral artery ligation as an alternative treatment for the subclavian steal syndrome.     

Intrathoracic Approach for Subclavian and Innominate Artery Reconstruction

A subclavian or innominate artery obliteration may cause a retrograde flow in the vertebral artery, a subclavian steal. The steal has been associated with cerebral symptoms indicating vertebrobasilar ischaemia, the subclavian steal syndrome. As there still are no objective means of measuring the effect of the steal on the brain circulation, the syndrome can only be proved by experience from the results of surgical attempts to correct the steal. The steal was at first eliminated by direct reconstruction of the subclavian and innominate arteries through a thoracic approach. As the mortality was high, many surgeons have used cervical bypass procedures with considerably lower mortality. The present report is based on 15 years' experience with 85 patients operated on with direct artery reconstruction through a thoracotomy. A low mortality (1.3%) for the last ten years, a high patency of the reconstruction (80%) 8 years postoperatively and a rather high rate of improvement (72%) in patients with subclavian steal syndrome were found. The study shows that the mortality rate with the thoracic approach need not necessarily be higher than with the cervical one. The high patency and the haemodynamically correct type of the reconstructions favour the thoracic approach. However, the direct reconstruction demands a technically advanced surgeon. who is well aquainted with the method. The results also showed that surgery still may be an alternative in patients with symptomatic subclavian steal.     

The role of subclavian-carotid transposition in surgery for supra-aortic occlusive disease

From 1977 through 1985, 1043 patients underwent operation for supra-aortic occlusive disease. One hundred thirty-four of these patients (13%) with 146 lesions of the aortic arch branches (innominate, 25; subclavian, 103; and multiple, 10) had one or more symptoms of subclavian steal (78%), transient ischemic attacks (37%), arm ischemia (37%), and others (7%). However, according to results of a critical prospective neurologic examination, the classic steal syndrome appeared in only 13 patients (10%), vertebrobasilar insufficiency in 32 patients (24%), and hemispheric symptoms in 48 patients (36%). Symptomatic and/or significant internal carotid occlusive disease was present, ipsilateral in 28% and contralateral in 31% of the patients. Other supra-aortic vessels were involved in 49% of the patients. During the same period 192 patients with supra-aortic occlusive disease were treated without surgical intervention for various reasons. Fifty-five patients (27%) were completely asymptomatic except for the presence of reversed flow within the vertebral artery. The surgical approach in 138 operations was extrathoracic (ET) in 71% of patients (innominate artery, 2; subclavian artery, 95; and arch syndrome, 1) and transthoracic (TT) in 29% of patients (innominate artery, 23; subclavian artery, 8; and arch syndrome, 9). Generally, bypass procedures were preferred, but for 72 (71%) of the subclavian lesions subclavian-carotid transposition (SCT) was performed. Three patients had been referred for complications of previous carotid-subclavian bypass. The grafts were removed and vertebral and arm circulation restored by SCT. Carotid end-arterectomy was performed simultaneously (20%) or staged (3%) in 8% of the innominate procedures and 25% of the subclavian reconstructive procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Incidence of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Medical Center and university-affiliated medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery and documented use of an internal mammary artery. INTERVENTIONS: Bilateral simultaneous brachial blood pressures were determined noninvasively. The presumptive diagnosis of ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis and coronary-subclavian steal syndrome was made if the systolic blood pressure differential was >20 mmHg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The presumptive diagnosis of ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis based on a blood pressure differential was made in 6 of 86 (5%) patients screened. The diagnosis of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome was confirmed at cardiac catheterization by observing retrograde internal mammary artery flow in 3 patients or lack of internal mammary artery flow in 1 patient (3.4%). All 4 patients with angiographic confirmation had either angina or silent ischemia. Three patients had successful carotid subclavian bypass, and 1 patient refused surgery. Two patients had no evidence of myocardial ischemia and underwent their planned procedure without incident. CONCLUSION: Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome occurs with relative frequency in noncardiac surgery patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery using internal mammary artery conduits. Bilateral blood pressure measurements should be routinely performed during the preoperative evaluation. A pressure differential >20 mmHg should suggest the possibility of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.     

Intrathoracic approach for subclavian and innominate artery reconstruction.

A subclavian or innominate artery obliteration may cause a retrograde flow in the vertebral artery, a subclavian steal. The steal has been associated with cerebral symptoms indicating vertebrobasilar ischaemia, the subclavian steal syndrome. As there still are no objective means of measuring the effect of the steal on the brain circulation, the syndrome can only be proved by experience from the results of surgical attempts to correct the steal. The steal was at first eliminated by direct reconstruction of the subclavian and innominate arteries through a thoracic approach. As the mortality was high, many surgeons have used cervical bypass procedures with considerably lower mortality. The present report is based on 15 years' experience with 85 patients operated on with direct artery reconstruction through a thoracotomy. A low mortality (1.3%) for the last ten years, a high patency of the reconstruction (80%) 8 years postoperatively and rather high rate of improvement (72%) in patients with subclavian steal syndrome were found. The study shows that the mortality rate with the thoracic approach need not necessarily be higher than with the cervical one. The high patency and the haemodynamically correct type of the reconstructions favour the thoracic approach. However, the direct reconstruction demands a technically advanced surgeon, who is well aquainted with the method. The results also showed that surgery still may be an alternative in patients with symptomatic subclavian steal.     

Axillo-axillary bypass with polytetrafluoroethylene graft for coronary subclavian steal syndrome

The purpose of this study is to report the results of axillo-axillary bypass (AAB) for coronary subclavian steal syndrome due to proximal subclavian artery occlusion. From 2003 to 2010, AAB using a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft was performed in 11 patients with coronary subclavian steal syndrome. There was no perioperative mortality, stroke or cardiac complications. Over a mean follow-up of 36 months (range: 6-81 months), all bypass grafts have remained patent. No patient developed recurrent symptoms of myocardial ischemia. One patient died from hemorrhagic stroke at 31 months. Our results showed that AAB using a PTFE graft provides an effective and durable treatment option for coronary subclavian steal syndrome when attempted endovascular therapy of the occluded proximal subclavian artery is unsuccessful.     

Indikationsstellung und operationstechnisches Vorgehen bei chronischen Verschlüssen des Truncus brachiocephalicus und der A. subclavia im Abschnitt I

Zusammenfassung Die Operationsindikation ist im klinischen Stadium II und beim subclavian steal-Syndrom gegeben. Bei Obliteration des Truncus brachiocephalicus ist die direkte Desobliteration von einer medianen Sternotomie aus das Operationsverfahren der Wahl. Die Operationsletalität liegt bei 6%. Der Verschluß der linken proximalen A. subclavia kann entweder von einer anterolateralen Thoracotomie aus direkt desobliteriert werden oder durch eine extrathorakale Umleitung überbrückt werden. Dem extrathorakalen Bypass-Verfahren wird z.Z. wegen der geringen Operationsletalität (0.8% gegenüber 7% beim transthorakalen Vorgehen) der Vorzug gegeben. Rechtsseitige Subclaviaverschlüsse werden supraclaviculär desobliteriert.

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Indication and operative technique in chronic occlusions of the innominate artery and proximal subclavian artery

Summary Surgery is indicated in clinical stage 11 and cases of subclavian steal syndrome. Endarterectomy by mid-sternotomy is the operation of choice for obliteration of the innominate artery. The lethality rate is 6%. Occlusion of the left proximal subclavian artery can be treated by transthoracic endarterectomy or extrathoracic bypass procedure. The bypass procedure is preferred because of low operative lethality rate (0.8% versus 7% in transthoracic procedure). Occlusions of the right proximal subclavian artery are treated by supraclavicular endarterectomy.

Auszugsweise als Vortrag gehalten auf der 96. Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie     

Treatment of subclavian artery stenosis: A case series

IntroductionIn this case series, different modalities of treatment for patients with ischaemic symptoms of subclavian stenosis are described, including the different operative strategies that can be adopted in more challenging cases. This is the first case series describing these four management options.PresentationCase 1: A seventy-one year-old female presented with acute on chronic ischaemia of her left arm following a fall and developed dry gangrene of her left thumb. This was initially managed with a heparin infusion followed by stenting of the subclavian artery which relieved her symptoms. Case 2: A fifty-nine year-old male presented with chronic ischemia of the left arm secondary to an occlusion of the left subclavian artery. This was managed by transposition of the left subclavian artery onto the left common carotid artery. Case 3: A sixty-four year-old female presented with left subclavian steal syndrome secondary to subclavian artery stenosis. She underwent carotid subclavian artery bypass. Case 4: A fifty-six year-old female presented with acute left upper limb ischaemia secondary to acutely thrombosed subclavian artery on a CT-angiography. She underwent a carotid to axillary bypass.Discussion and conclusionThis case series demonstrates the treatment options available to vascular surgeons when managing symptomatic subclavian artery disease. Symptomatic subclavian artery occlusive disease should be treated with endovascular stenting and angioplasty as first line management. If it is not successful then open surgery should be considered. Bypassing the carotid to the subclavian or to the axillary artery are both good treatment modalities.