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.     

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.     

Distal radial artery lesion as a source of digital emboli

Ischemic changes of the digits caused by emboli are rare. When they do occur, the typical sites of origin include the heart, the proximal subclavian artery, and the thoracic outlet. Dialysis access or iatrogenic injuries may be a more distal source of emboli. Two patients, each with embolization to the thumb and index finger from a lesion in the anatomical snuff-box, were studied. Neither patient had any other atherosclerotic occlusive disease, and both lesions occurred precisely where the extensor pollicis longus crossed the artery and would be expected to compress it against the proximal epiphysis of the first metacarpal when the hand was closed. These lesions were excised, and bypass was performed, with rapid resolution of symptoms. This is an unusual cause of digital embolization that should be considered in patients with emboli to the thumb and index finger. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:710-4.)     

Utility of left subclavian artery revascularization in association with endoluminal repair of acute and chronic thoracic aortic pathology

BACKGROUND: A rapidly increasing number of thoracic aortic lesions are now treated by endoluminal exclusion by using stent grafts. Many of these lesions abut the great vessels and limit the length of the proximal landing zone. Various methods have been used to address this issue. We report our experience with subclavian artery revascularization in association with endoluminal repair of acute and chronic thoracic aortic pathology. METHODS: Thirty (43%) of 70 patients undergoing thoracic endovascular stent-graft placement from January 2001 to August 2005 had lesions adjacent to or involving the origin of the subclavian artery. The mean age was 62 years (range, 22-85 years; 63% were men, and 37% were women). This subgroup of 30 patients had indications for repair that included thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 15), traumatic transection (n = 6), chronic dissection with pseudoaneurysm (n = 5), and acute dissection with intramural hematoma (n = 4). All 30 patients had the subclavian origin covered by the stent graft. In eight cases (27%), no effort was made to revascularize the subclavian artery before or during the endograft placement procedure. Twenty-three (77%) of 30 patients underwent subclavian to carotid artery transposition (n = 21) or bypass (n = 2) before (n = 12; average of 14 days before stent-graft placement), concomitant with (n = 10), or after (n = 1) the endovascular procedure. Physical examination and computed tomography scans were performed after surgery at 1, 6, and 12 months and annually thereafter. The mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 1-51 months). RESULTS: Five acute complications occurred in the eight patients (63%) who had the subclavian artery covered without pre-endograft revascularization and included four patients who experienced stroke (accounting for the only death) and one patient who developed symptomatic subclavian-vertebral steal that necessitated transposition 7 months later. Two (9%) of the 23 patients who had subclavian revascularization experienced left-sided vocal cord palsies, and 1 patient (4%) developed lower extremity paraparesis secondary to spinal cord ischemia. No late endoleaks related to retrograde sac perfusion from the most distal great vessel have been identified in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Subclavian revascularization procedures can be performed with relatively low risk. Complications are rare, and patient recovery is rapid. Although this is not necessary in all cases, we advocate subclavian to carotid transposition when the aortic lesion is within 15 mm of the left subclavian orifice to prevent type II endoleak or perfusion of a dissected false lumen when the ipsilateral vertebral artery is patent and dominant or when coronary revascularization using an ipsilateral internal mammary artery is anticipated and in cases that necessitate extensive coverage of intercostals that contribute to spinal cord perfusion. Carotid to subclavian artery bypass should be reserved for patients with a patent internal mammary artery conduit perfusing a coronary vessel and should be combined with proximal subclavian ligation.     

Stenting for Atherosclerotic Occlusive Disease of the Subclavian Artery

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of stenting subclavian artery pathologic lesions. Between July 1991 and December 1995, 69 patients (36 males: mean age 67 years, range 34-87 years) underwent intraluminal balloon dilatations followed by stent implantations in 70 subclavian arteries to treat primary atherosclerotic stenoses > 70%. Twenty-three patients (34%) were treated for vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI), 25 patients (36%) were treated for upper limb ischemia (ULI), and 10 patients (15%) were treated for both VBI and ULI. Other indications included symptomatic subclavian steal phenomenon (SSS), protection of dialysis arteriovenous fistula, coronary steal syndrome, protection of axilloaxillary bypass, distal embolization, and protection of left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-coronary bypass. Fifty-three cases (78%) were treated for stenosis and 17 cases (22%) for total occlusion of the origin of the subclavian artery. The results of this series indicate that stenting of subclavian artery stenosis appears safe and feasible with good short and mid-term patency, improving at those intervals the initial disappointing reports of balloon angioplasty alone. However, its long-term durability is at present unknown.     

Direct subclavian-carotid anastomosis for the subclavian steal syndrome

Between 1984 and 1986, 38 patients--25 males and 13 females--underwent treatment for proximal subclavian arteriosclerotic lesions. All of these patients presented with symptoms of the subclavian steal syndrome and 13 (34.2%) had additional claudication of the arm. Preoperative angiography showed distal filling of the subclavian artery via retrograde flow in the vertebral artery. 31 patients (81.5%) had total occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery and 7 (18.5%) presented with severe stenosis. 34 of these lesions were on the left (89.5%) and 4 on the right side (10.5%). Complete cerebral angiography was performed in each patient with emphasis on visualisation of the carotid bifurcation and selective opacification of the aortic arch vessels if indicated. Doppler ultrasound flow measurement in the vertebral artery yielded the basic data which were then used for comparative postoperative evaluation. The operation was performed under general anaesthesia and heparinisation. A shunt was not required while performing the direct end-to-side anastomosis between the transected subclavian and the common carotid artery. Arteriosclerotic plaques in the distal stump of the transected subclavian artery and occasionally the origin of the vertebral artery were dealt with by simple eversion endarterectomy. There was no operative mortality; the postoperative complication rate was 13.1% including palsy of the recurrent nerve in 3 patients, a lymphatic cyst of the neck in one patient and bleeding requiring re-exploration in another. Occlusion of the reconstructed artery or neurologic deficit did not occur. Post operatively all patients were treated with platelet inhibitors. The average follow-up period was 13 months, when the reconstructed arteries were found to be patent in 37 patients (97.4%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery. Case reports

Five patients suffering from subclavian artery false aneurysms underwent surgery in the last 6 years at the Institute of General and Cardiovascular Surgery University of Milan. The management was considerably different from the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions of this artery, because of the various nature of such traumatic lesion and the variable (stable or unstable) hemodynamic conditions of the patients. Arteriography was extremely useful in the evaluation of site and extension of pseudoaneurysms. When pseudoaneurysm was in the left side (in one case), supraclavicular incision and posterolateral thoracotomy were adopted to allow the control of both proximal and distal portion of subclavian artery. When the pseudoaneurysm was in the right side (in 3 cases) a median sternotomy with extension of the soft tissue incision into the right side of the neck provided the exposure of the proximal and distal right subclavian artery. In the last case, proximal infected false aneurysm (after right axillo-femoral bypass graft) was removed and substituted by contralateral axillo-bifemoral bypass.     

Early and mid-term results of endovascular treatment of thoracic aorta diseases: a single-center experience

We conducted an analysis to assess early and mid-term outcomes of patients after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B thoracic aorta dissection, descending thoracic aneurysm, or traumatic aortic transection. From January 2016 through December 2018, twenty-seven patients (23 male, 4 female, mean age of 57 years) affected by type B dissection (n = 13 [48.2%]), thoracic aneurysm (n = 9 [33.3%]), and post-traumatic aortic isthmus rupture (n = 5 [18.5%]) were treated using TEVAR with and without left subclavian artery revascularization. All procedures were performed in a hybrid operating room using general (n = 12) or regional (n = 15) anesthesia. A combined brachial artery and bilateral femoral artery access was used in all patients. To achieve adequate proximal thoracic aorta landing zone length, coverage of the left subclavian artery with proximal endovascular plug occlusion was performed in 17 patients (62.9%); including 4 patients undergoing carotid–subclavian artery bypass before TEVAR stent-graft deployment. Primary procedural success rate was 96.3%; 1 patient had a Type Ib endoleak that was treated by distal stent graft extension. Four adverse outcomes occurred in the immediate postoperative period, including 2 cases of left upper arm acute ischemia (7.4%), ischemic stroke (3.7%), and asymptomatic iliac artery dissection (3.7%). During a mean follow-up of 18 months, no graft-related deaths or endoleak occurred. One patient developed symptomatic subclavian steal syndrome 1 month after operation and underwent a left carotid–subclavian artery bypass with symptom resolution. One patient died 6 months after TEVAR due to neoplasm. Our experience indicates TEVAR is a safe and less invasive alternative to open surgery for a spectrum of thoracic aorta diseases, especially for urgent conditions and in patients with high-risk surgical comorbidities.     

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)     

Concomitant subclavian and carotid artery disease: the need for a combined surgical correction.

To determine the importance of carotid artery disease in patients undergoing revascularization of the proximal subclavian artery for a subclavian steal syndrome, an 18-year experience of 55 patients was reviewed. Concomitant carotid artery disease (> 50% stenosis) was present in 35 patients (Group I: 63.6%). Twenty patients (Group II: 36.4%) had no evidence of hemodynamically significant carotid disease. Twenty-five patients in Group I (Group IA: 71.4%) were treated by endarterectomy (CEA) for all their carotid lesions while one or both carotid lesions were left untreated in 10 patients (Group IB: 28.6%). The actuarial 5-year freedom rate from neurological events was 87.2% in Group IA, 34.9% in Group IB (p < 0.001) and 100% in Group II (Group IB vs. II, p < 0.001; Group IA vs. Group II, p = ns). All untreated carotid lesions had a deleterious effect on the early and late functional results after surgical reconstruction of the subclavian artery. We conclude that the combined correction of subclavian and carotid lesions should be recommended in every case.     

Comparative results of carotid-subclavian bypass and axillo-axillary bypass in patients with symptomatic subclavian disease.

The results of 26 carotid-subclavian bypass (CSB) and 17 axillo-axillary bypass (AAB) procedures, performed to treat symptomatic lesions of the proximal subclavian artery, were reviewed. Nine graft failures (seven CSB and two AAB) occurred (mean follow-up: CSB = 60.5 +/- 41 months; AAB = 67.8 +/- 48 months). All CSB graft thromboses were observed in patients with an associated ipsilateral carotid lesion, surgically treated or not (p less than 0.05). Cumulative 5- and 10-year patency rates were 78.3 and 62.9% for the CSB group and 87.9% for the AAB group (N.S.). In patients with an associated ipsilateral carotid lesion, 5- and 10-year patency rates were 66.0% and 40.8% for the CSB group and 100% for the AAB group (p less than 0.05). Both the surgical procedures were safe and effective with excellent results in terms of operative mortality, major morbidity and long-term patency. CSB is the procedure of choice for the treatment of proximal subclavian artery disease for its physiological characteristics and for graft shortness. However AAB must be considered a suitable alternative and preferred when a concomitant ipsilateral carotid lesion is present. Recurrence of carotid stenosis or carotid lesion progression may cause the carotid-subclavian failure.     

An institutional experience with arterial atheroembolism

Seemingly minor blue-toe lesions resulting from atheroemboli are associated with unstable atherosclerotic plaques, which are at risk for causing recurrent emboli, tissue loss, and potentially death. At Washington University Medical Center, 62 patients (31 males and 31 females), ranging in age from 38 to 89 years (mean 62.8 ± 11.7 years), were treated for cutaneous manifestations of atheroembolic disease. Most patients (62%) had spontaneous bouts of atheroembolism, but 13 (21%) had recently undergone an inciting invasive radiologic study, 10 (16%) were on anticoagulation therapy, and one (2%) experienced abdominal trauma. In addition to the cutaneous manifestations, 18 patients (29%) also developed coincidental deterioration in renal function and four (6%) had intestinal infarction from atheroemboli. Arteriography in nearly all patients (97%) implicated the aorta and iliac arteries most commonly (80%), with the femoral (13%), popliteal (3%), and subclavian (3%) arteries less frequently incriminated. Forty-two patients underwent bypass grafting procedures (36 anatomic and six extra-anatomic) after exclusion of the native diseased artery, 20 patients had endarterectomies (six with additional bypass grafts), and five patients had no corrective vascular procedures. The 30-day operative mortality rate was 5% in this series. Nineteen patients (31%) required minor amputations, whereas two required major leg amputations. Thus limb salvage was possible in 86 of 88 (98%) limbs. No further episodes of atheroembolism occurred in the involved limbs during follow-up (1 to 53 months, mean 20.2 months). We advocate urgent arteriography and surgical correction or bypass with exclusion of the offending lesion. This aggressive approach results in maximal limb salvage, low operative mortality, and excellent long-term relief of embolization.     

手术治疗锁骨下动脉闭塞症

目的探讨锁骨下动脉闭塞症的有效手术治疗方法。方法 2005年12月-2010年2月,收治锁骨下动脉闭塞症53例。男40例,女13例;年龄22～77岁,平均64岁。病程15d～20个月,平均6.5个月。动脉硬化闭塞症49例,大动脉炎4例。左锁骨下动脉闭塞35例,狭窄5例;右锁骨下动脉闭塞5例,狭窄4例;双侧锁骨下动脉闭塞4例。对39例单侧锁骨下动脉闭塞伴颈、脑动脉病变者采用腋动脉-腋动脉聚四氟乙烯(polytetra?uoroethylene,PTFE)人工血管转流术;10例不伴颈、脑动脉病变者行颈动脉-锁骨下动脉PTFE人工血管转流术。4例双侧锁骨下动脉闭塞者采用升主动脉-双锁骨下动脉PTFE人工血管转流术。术后常规应用抗凝及抗血小板药物治疗。结果 1例大动脉炎患者术后48h动脉吻合口及人工血管血栓形成;余52例手术均获成功,手术成功率98.11%。术中神经钳夹损伤2例,术后双侧吻合口周围血肿4例,均经保守治疗痊愈。52例手术成功患者均获随访,随访时间1～52个月,平均24.5个月。患者均存活,术前椎基底动脉及上肢动脉缺血症状均消失。彩色超声多普勒血流探测仪检查见吻合口及人工血管血流通畅,术后1年及2年人工血管通畅率均为100%;患侧椎动脉血流方向恢复正常。1例术后18个月出现腋动脉吻合口假性动脉瘤,行介入栓塞治愈。结论锁骨下动脉闭塞症的治疗术式较多,但应根据患者全身情况和病变特点进行合理选择。围手术期的正确处理及术中严格操作,是保证手术成功的关键。     

Surgical approach to the whole length of the vertebral artery with special reference to the third portion

Summary A lateral route between the SCM and the lateral border of the internal jugular vein is defined from an anatomical study for exposure of the VA. It offers the simplest route for controlling any part or the whole length of the VA, including its intracranial portion. Surgical indications are discussed on the basis of our experience in eight cases with, in all cases, control of the VA in its third segment between C 2 and the foramen magnum. Arteriovenous malformations are the most frequent indications; two cases were treated by direct approach and one by exclusion and anastomosis between the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery at C 1-C 2. Tumours of the lateral cervical space (one haemangiopericytoma and one jugular glomus tumour) or of the posterior fossa extruding out of the foramen magnum or the jugular foramen (one meningioma) may required control of the VA. Traumatic lesions (one case) or compression by an osteophytic spur are also indications for this approach. Wall lesions of the VA (aneurysm or stenosis) are best treated by exclusion and anastomosis between either the carotid or the subclavian artery and the vertebral artery at C 1-C 2 level. One case of aneurysmal dysplasia was cured by anastomosis between the subclavian artery and the vertebral artery at C 1-C 2 with a saphenous vein graft and clipping of the VA proximal to the by-pass. Radiological examinations are fundamental for diagnosis, treatment when embolization is necessary, and choice of surgical treatment, according to the importance of the contralateral VA and the medullary branches.     

Subclavian carotid transposition and bypass grafting: consecutive cohort study and systematic review

PURPOSE: We describe outcomes in a cohort of patients undergoing subclavian carotid transposition (SCT) for occlusive disease of the first segment of the subclavian artery and perform a systematic review of the literature on SCT and carotid subclavian bypass grafting (CSB). METHODS: Relevance, validity and extraction of review results were done in duplicate. Data were collected prospectively in our consecutive cohort of patients. RESULTS: From September 1990 to February 2001, we performed 27 SCTs, four for aneurysmal disease and 23 for occlusive disease. SCTs done for aneurysms were excluded from the current analysis. In patients with occlusive disease, the primary indications for surgery were vertebrobasilar and carotid symptoms (10, 44%), vertebrobasilar insufficiency (7, 30%), vertebrobasilar and arm symptoms (4, 17%), carotid symptoms (1, 4%), and vertebrobasilar, carotid, and arm symptoms (1, 4%). An SCT was performed in conjunction with an endarterectomy of the carotid artery in 12 patients (52%), with an endarterectomy of the subclavian artery in seven patients (30%), and with an endarterectomy of the vertebral artery in six patients (26%). A lymph leak complicated two surgeries (9%). In our series, patients improved clinically after surgery, and reconstructions were all found to be patent by means of Doppler ultrasound scanning at a mean follow-up of 25 +/- 21 months. Three patients (13%) died during follow-up of complications of coronary artery disease. From 1966 to 2000, 516 patients who underwent CSB and 511 patients who underwent a SCT were reported in the literature. Patency rates were 84% and 98%, respectively (P <.0001; absolute risk reduction, 15%; number-needed-to-treat-differently, 7), and the rates of freedom from symptoms were 88% and 99%, respectively, at a mean follow-up of 59 +/- 17 months (range, 1-228 months). CONCLUSION: Our cohort study showed that SCT is safe and effective for reconstruction of the first segment of the subclavian artery. The systematic review suggested that rates of patency and freedom from clinical symptoms are higher with SCT than with CSB.     

Coverage of the left subclavian artery during thoracic endovascular aortic repair

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic stent grafts require proximal and distal landing zones of adequate length to effectively exclude thoracic aortic lesions. The origins of the left subclavian artery and other aortic arch branch vessels often impose limitations on the proximal landing zone, thereby disallowing endovascular repair of more proximal thoracic lesions. METHODS: Between October 2000 and November 2005, 112 patients received stent grafts to treat lesions involving the thoracic aorta. The proximal aspect of the stent graft partially or totally occluded the origin of at least one great vessel in 28 patients (25%). The proximal attachment site was in zone 0 in one patient (3.6%), zone 1 in three patients (10.7%), and zone 2 in 24 patients (85.7%). Patients with proximal implantation in zones 0 or 1 underwent debranching procedures of the supra-aortic vessels before stent graft repair. In one patient who underwent zone 1 deployment, the left subclavian artery was revascularized before stent graft deployment. Among patients who underwent zone 2 deployment with partial or complete occlusion of the left subclavian artery, none underwent prior revascularization. Patients were assessed postoperatively and at follow-up for development of neurologic symptoms as well as symptoms of left upper extremity claudication or ischemia. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 7.3 months. Among the 24 patients with zone 2 implantation, 10 (42%) had partial left subclavian artery coverage at the time of their primary procedure. A total of 19 patients experienced complete cessation of antegrade flow through the origin of the left subclavian artery without revascularization at the time of the initial endograft repair as a result of a secondary procedure or as a consequence of left subclavian artery thrombosis. Left upper extremity symptoms developed in three (15.8%) patients that did not warrant intervention, and rest pain developed in one (5.3%), which was treated with the deployment of a left subclavian artery stent. Two primary (type IA and type III) endoleaks (7.1%) and one secondary endoleak (type IA) (3.6%) were observed in patients who underwent zone 2 deployment. Three cerebrovascular accidents were observed. Thoracic aortic lesions were successfully excluded in all patients who underwent supra-aortic debranching procedures. CONCLUSION: Intentional coverage of the origin of the left subclavian artery to obtain an adequate proximal landing zone during endovascular repair of thoracic aortic lesions is well tolerated and may be managed expectantly, with some exceptions.     

The correction of cerebrovascular insufficiency by transluminal dilatation: a preliminary report

Transluminal angioplasty is being extensively utilized to dilate arteriosclerotic lesions. However, this technique has not been widely used for the treatment of cerebrovascular insufficiency. This report describes the application of transluminal angioplasty to relieve cerebral ischemia secondary to extracranial arterial stenosis. A total of 10 patients presented with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Bilateral upper extremity pressures were measured prior to the performance of arteriography on all patients. Significant stenoses were found in the subclavian artery (9) and in the innominate artery (1). Dilating catheters were passed retrograde through surgically exposed brachial and common carotid arteries. Transluminal angioplasty under fluoroscopic control was attempted. Anatomic correction of all lesions was achieved without hemorrhagic or embolic complications. The mean increase in brachial systolic pressure was 38.2 mm Hg postdilatation. Initial symptomatic relief was total in seven patients, partial in two, and absent in one. It is believed that associated small vessel brain stem disease accounted for the less than total relief of symptoms of these three patients. Average follow-up for all patients was 13 months with one recurrent subclavian artery stenosis occurring at three months postangioplasty. Preliminary results suggest that some patients with cerebral ischemia secondary to extracranial arterial stenosis can be treated safely by transluminal angioplasty.     

Endovascular therapy of symptomatic innominate-subclavian arterial occlusive lesions

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic innominate-subclavian lesions by review of records of symptomatic patients undergoing angioplasty and stenting of high-grade lesions (>80%) of the innominate and subclavian arteries. Follow-up consisted of history (symptoms) and physical examination (pulses and blood pressures) at 1, 3, 6, and then every 12 months plus an annual duplex ultrasound examination. Between 1998 to 2003, 25 patients (27 lesions) were treated. Ages ranged from 48 to 89 years. Symptoms included vertebrobasilar/steal (15), claudication (6), ischemia (4), and coronary artery bypass grafting/left internal mammary artery (2). There were 7 occlusions and 20 high-grade stenoses. Access was attempted via brachial cutdown (19) or percutaneous puncture of the brachial (2) or femoral arteries (10). Twenty-two lesions were stented with either self-expanding (13) or balloon-expandable (9) stents. Technical success was 89%; 3 occluded lesions could not be crossed owing to complete occlusion. The remaining 4 occlusions were all crossed via a retrograde approach. The mean difference in systolic blood pressure between upper limbs decreased from 36 mm Hg (preprocedure) to 10 mm Hg (postprocedure). There were no procedure-related complications. Mean follow-up was 18 months (range 1-62 months). One patient died 4 months after the procedure secondary to complications from pulmonary surgery unrelated to the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent. Of the 4 successfully treated occlusions, 2 were followed up to 3 years with continued patency. Three patients developed recurrent stenoses documented by duplex examination. However, these patients remained asymptomatic and were not treated. Endovascular management of high-grade lesions of the subclavian or innominate arteries is safe and efficacious and may be considered as a first line of therapy. Continued follow-up is needed to assess long-term patency.     

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the brachiocephalic artery following medianoscopy: initial endovascular repair followed by open surgery--a case report

Endovascular stent graft repair of traumatic vessel injuries is gaining worldwide acceptance as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgical repair. However, effective endovascular repair fails if the aneurysm is not completely excluded. Conversion to open surgery may be unavoidable in such cases. Herein we describe the case of a 45-year-old man who was referred to our hospital with a pseudoaneurysm of the proximal brachiocephalic artery caused by biopsy during diagnostic medianoscopy. The pseudoaneurysm was primarily treated by stent-graft implantation into the proximal brachiocephalic artery. As a result of the unfavorable location of the lesion exclusion of the aneurysm failed and the initial therapy had to be extended to open reconstruction of the brachiocephalic artery. A bypass procedure from the aortic arch to the right common carotid artery was performed with reinsertion of the right subclavian artery to exclude the pseudoaneurysm.     

Ischemia of the upper extremity: significance of proximal arterial disease

Thirty-four patients had upper extremity ischemia due to proximal arterial disease, including subclavian compression at the thoracic outlet, innominate or subclavian atherosclerosis, and other causes. Nineteen lesions caused distal embolization. Although successful arterial reconstructions were performed in all but one patient, there were five major amputations. Four were associated with a delay in diagnosis, which allowed the formation of repeated distal emboli. Since overlooked proximal brachiocephalic arterial lesions can produce devastating consequences, we believe these vessels should be examined in all cases of hand and arm ischemia.