Subclavian-external carotid bypass.

Subclavian to external carotid artery bypass was performed to improve collateral flow to the brain in three patients with symptomatic cerebral ischemia from common-internal carotid occlusion. Stenosis of the contralateral carotid in the neck or intracranial internal carotid arteries was also present. There was significant neurological improvement without complications in the three operations. Saphenous vein was used for the bypass and graft patency was confirmed by intra or postoperative arteriography in all cases.