Dopplersonographic diagnosis of subclavian steal in infants with coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch.

In two newborns with severe coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch, subclavian-steal was shown by angiocardiography. In both children pulsed doppler recordings were obtained in the cerebral arteries: normal forward flow during systole and diastole could be shown in the anterior cerebral arteries, both internal carotid arteries, the basilar artery and the right vertebral artery. In the left vertebral artery in both infants a negative flow indicating backflow from the brain could be shown. Pulsed doppler sonography of the flow in the vertebral arteries is a non invasive method for diagnosis of subclavian steal in infants with coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch.