Use of angioplasty in the prevention and treatment of coronary--subclavian steal syndrome.

PURPOSE

The coronary-subclavian artery steal (CSS) syndrome is caused by critical stenosis in the subclavian artery proximal to a bypass graft from the internal mammary artery (IMA) to the coronary artery. The stenosis results in retrograde flow in the IMA and steal from the coronary artery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in eight patients (five men, three women). In four patients (group 1), coronary ischemia had developed 0.5-70 months (mean, 31 months) after IMA-to-coronary artery bypass surgery. These four patients (mean age, 58 years; range, 44-68 years) underwent PTA of a single area of focal subclavian stenosis to treat CSS. In four other patients (group 2), atherosclerotic subclavian stenosis had developed proximal to a donor IMA before planned bypass surgery. These patients (mean age, 53 years; range, 50-57 years) underwent PTA of a single focal subclavian stenosis to prevent CSS.

RESULTS

Group 1 patients were free of myocardial ischemia at follow-up (mean follow-up, 39.0 months; range, 14-101 months). Three of four patients in group 2 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with the ipsilateral IMA following PTA of the subclavian stenosis; they were free of angina at follow-up (mean follow-up, 14 months; range, 10-18 months).

CONCLUSION

PTA is a safe and efficacious short-term method for prevention and treatment of CSS syndrome.