Primary stent deployment in occlusive subclavian artery disease

Percutaneous endovascular therapy for symptomatic chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery

INTRODUCTION

Percutaneous endovascular therapy is an accepted and preferred procedure for symptomatic subclavian artery disease. However, the technical feasibility and effectiveness of treating chronic total occlusion of the subclavian artery with this approach is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the initial and mid-term results of endovascular therapy for patients with symptomatic chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery.

METHODS

Consecutive patients who underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting for chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery between January 2010 and February 2014 were included.

RESULTS

Overall, 16 patients (10 male, 6 female; mean age 56 ± 13 years) underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting for chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery. 6 (37.5%) had arm claudication, 8 (50.0%) had vertebrobasilar insufficiency and 2 (12.5%) had coronary steal. 18 balloon-expandable stents were implanted in 15 patients. Central luminal passage was not achieved in one patient because of the subintimal position of the guidewire (procedural success rate 93.8%). There were no procedure-related complications. Mean preprocedural and postprocedural systolic blood pressure differences between the upper extremities were 37 ± 13 (range 25-60) mmHg and 11 ± 9 (range 5-38) mmHg, respectively; the improvement was statistically significant. Outpatient follow-up revealed one asymptomatic restenosis at two years. The patency rate at two years was 93.3%.

CONCLUSION

Balloon angioplasty and stenting for chronic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery is safe and effective, with good acute success rate and mid-term patency. Prospective randomised studies on larger patient populations would provide more precise results.

Endovascular Management of Right Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm due to War Injury in Adolescent Patient

Today there is a widespread use of endovascular treatment (EVT) for traumatic vascular injuries in adults, but there is lack of evidence of its use in adolescent patients with vascular injuries. With this case, we present successful EVT of 14-year-old adolescent with a right subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm (SAP) due to war injury. SAP was successfully excluded with deployment of 6 × 50 mm flexible, self-expanding covered nitinol stent graft (The GORE® VIABAHN® Endoprosthesis (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ)). Patient was discharged from hospital 2 days after the procedure with dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel and aspirin). 3 months after discharge control DUS showed patent stent graft without any residual lesions. As a result, EVT is an alternative approach to treatment of SAP. It is safe, effective, and less invasive therapy for SAP in adults as well as in adolescents. We aim to contribute to the literature with this first case report.

Endovascular therapy of axillary artery disease with drug-coated balloon angioplasty

The occurrence of upper-extremity arterial disease is less common than that of the lower extremities. Nevertheless, exercise-induced symptoms, when present, can significantly affect functional capacity and limit quality of life. We report a case of exertional right upper-extremity pain and severe right axillary artery disease that was revascularized using an off-label drug-coated balloon technology with resolution of symptoms.

Endovascular treatment and morphology typing of chronic ostial occlusion of the subclavian artery

Chronic obstructive lesions of the subclavian artery (SCA) often result in subclavian steal syndrome, which leads to arm claudication, transient cerebral ischemia, and other serious complications. The lesions are classified as stenosis and occlusion, according to the degree of obstruction. Unlike totally occlusive lesions, including ostial occlusions, stenotic lesions have an excellent technical success rate. In the present study, ostial occlusions were classified into 4 types according to their angiographic appearance. A total of 8 patients (6 male, 2 female) with SCA occlusions were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting over a 4-year period. Mean patient age was 65.6 years (range, 60-72 years). In total, 9 self-expanding and 1 balloon-expandable stent were implanted at the ostia of the SCA in 7 of the patients. One female patient did not undergo stenting. Bleeding at the access site was noted in 2 patients and was controlled by gauze pressure. The patient that did not undergo stenting was lost to follow-up with symptoms of a transient ischemic attack at 3 months. The mean follow-up time for the remaining 7 patients was 15.7 months (range, 1-36 months). No ischemic symptoms, neointimal hyperplasia, or restenosis was observed in these patients. The transfemoral artery operation approach is preferred for rat-tail and peak type occlusions, whereas the dual approach involving both femoral and radial arteries is preferred for hilly and plain type occlusions. The angiographic morphology typing used in the present study may serve as a reference to decide upon the interventional operation strategy to be used for improving the technical success rate.

Results of Transradial Subclavian Artery Percutaneous Interventions After Bilateral or Single Access

Percutaneous treatment of subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion has become more popular compared with surgical correction. We compared the early and late results of subclavian artery stenting with bilateral or single transradial access. From 2010 to 2015, we recruited 54 consecutive patients. In 35 cases, we used bilateral access, and in 19 cases, ipsilateral single access was used. Left subclavian artery was the culprit vessel in 72% of cases. There were more chronic total occlusions in the bilateral group (77% vs 21%, p = 0.0001). Transradial-only approach was used in all cases, except in 2 cases in the bilateral group where crossover to femoral access was required. Stents were implanted in 94% in bilateral group and 84% in single group (p = 0.47). Procedure duration (40 [35 to 60] vs 20 [15 to 30] minutes), contrast volume (200 [200 to 350] vs 150 [100 to 200] ml and fluoroscopy time (20 [12 to 30] vs 8 [4 to 11] minutes) were higher in bilateral group (all p values <0.0001). Procedural success was 96%. Overall, we observed three <5-cm hematomas and 3 asymptomatic radial artery occlusions at hospital discharge. After successful procedure, blood pressure equalized in 94% in bilateral group and 100% in single group (p = 0.54). Major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event-free survival up to 5 years was 97% in bilateral group compared with 84% in single group (p = 0.12). Subclavian artery patency at late follow-up was 91% in bilateral group and 95% in single group (p = 1.00). Using single or bilateral transradial approach, subclavian artery lesions or occlusions can be effectively and safely treated without the risks of femoral or brachial access.

Critical Ischemia

Conventional aortic surgery carries a significant mortality and morbidity. Transfemoral endoluminal aortic management (TEAM) offers a minimally invasive alternative. This article reports seven cases of TEAM for aortoiliac disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms with a patency rate of 100% at 24 months. Our data suggests that primary stenting can achieve excellent physiologic results and restoration of blood flow in selected patients with aortoiliac disease. Long-term study and follow-up is essential to determine the place of TEAM in the field of vascular surgery.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty of the Subclavian Arteries

Purpose:

To review the feasibility, risks, and long-term results of subclavian artery angioplasty with and without Palmaz stent placement.

Methods:

Over a 9-year period, 113 patients (67 males; mean age 63 ± 13 years) underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty of subclavian occlusive lesions for a variety of indications: vertebrobasilar insufficiency (n = 70), upper limb ischemia (n = 50), coronary steal syndrome (n = 6), or anticipated coronary artery bypass grafting using the internal mammary artery in 12 asymptomatic patients. There were 94 (83%) stenoses and 19 (17%) occlusions with a mean percent stenosis of 80.1% ± 7.4% (range 70 to 100). Mean lesion length was 24 ± 8 mm (range 10 to 50). Beginning in 1989, stents were implanted for suboptimal dilation; in 1995, stenting became routine.

Results:

Overall, 103 (91%) of 113 lesions were successfully treated; 10 (53%) occlusions could not be recanalized. Fifty-one stents were implanted in 46 patients. There were 3 (2.6%) procedural complications: a transient ischemic attack, one major (fatal) stroke, and an arterial thrombosis 24 hours after the procedure (treated medically) (0.9% major stroke and death rate). During a mean 4.3-year follow-up (range to 10), 16 (15.5%) restenoses were treated with angioplasty (n = 4), stenting (n = 7), or surgery (n = 5). Primary and secondary patencies for all treated lesions (n = 113) at 8 years were 75% and 81%, respectively; in patients without initial stent placement, the rates were 69% and 76%, while in those with stents, the rates rose slightly to 87% and 94% at 2.5 years (NS). Patency rates for all 103 recanalized lesions were 83% and 90% at 8 years (81% and 90% without stent and 87% and 94% with stent at 2.5 years, respectively [NS]).

Conclusions:

Balloon angioplasty with or without stenting is safe and effective for treating subclavian artery occlusive diseases with good long-term patency. Recanalization of occlusions is more difficult to achieve. Stents (implanted only for suboptimal dilation) do not seem to improve long-term patency.

Stenting for chronic total occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery

SUMMARY

We report the results of 26 patients who underwent stent deployment for chronic total occlusion of proximal subclavian artery. From January 1998 to October 2005, 26 patients (18 male; mean age, 62.7 years, range 22 to 83 years), 28 lesions, underwent 29 procedures of stenting for chronic total occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery.Twenty-three patients had symptoms of claudication in their arm, no patients had subclavian steal syndrome.A brachial approach was used in 21 procedures, a femoral approach was used in five procedures, and combined femoral-brachial approach was required in three procedures. Primary stent deployment was success in 24 lesions (85.7%), and secondary procedure was success in one patient, totally 25 lesions (89.3%) were successfully treated by stenting. Procedure related complication occurred in four cases, including stent migration without symptoms in two procedures, hemianopsia on next day in a case, and TIA on unclear reason in one case. Permanent morbidity rate is 3.4% in procedure. Target lesion re-treatment required in three lesions, caused by subacute thrombosis, in-stent-restenosis, and dissection of the vessel by stent edge. The cases of subacute thrombosis and in-stent-restenosis were treated by re-PTA, and the case of dissection was treated by additional stenting. Secondary patency was 100%. We conclude that stenting for chronic total occlusion of subclavian arteries appears feasible and safe.

Myocardial thievery: the coronary-subclavian steal syndrome

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome entails the reversal of blood flow in a previously constructed internal mammary artery coronary conduit, which produces myocardial ischemia. The most frequent cause of the syndrome is atherosclerotic disease in the ipsilateral, proximal subclavian artery. Although coronary-subclavian steal was initially reported to be rare, the increasing documentation of this phenomenon and its potentially catastrophic consequences in recent series suggests that the incidence of the problem has been underreported and that its clinical impact has been underestimated. We review the causes and background of coronary-subclavian steal; methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating it; and the potential influence of various treatment regimens on long-term survival and the likelihood of late adverse events in patients with coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.

Treatment of innominate arterial stenosis with self-expanding stent: long-term follow-up

We report our experience with the use of a self-expanding stent in the treatment of a severe innominate artery stenosis resulting in right upper limb ischemia. A 45-year-old woman was admitted for right upper limb ischemia, asymmetry of the carotid pulse and the lack of pulse in the right upper extremity. The patient had a history of chain smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and acute myocardial infarction one year ago. She was diagnosed of the innominate artery stenosis by angiography one year ago at another hospital. At the time of admission her blood pressure was normal in the left arm and absent in the right upper limb. Arteriography showed a severe stenosis subocclusion of the innominate artery with an inverse flow of the ipsilateral vertebral artery. As the patient was not considered to be a surgical candidate due to instable angina, stent placement was indicated. After placement through an axillary approach an angiogram showed a patent right subclavian artery without residual stenosis. Angiographic follow-up showed a patent innominate arterial lumen two years after the procedure. The patient continued to be asymptomatic during six years follow-up. Blood pressure remained normal in both upper extremities, without any ischemic signs. Our experience indicates that placement of an endovascular stent is an effective therapeutic option in selected patients with symptomatic stenosis in the innominate artery when a surgical treatment is contraindicated.

Determinants of immediate and long-term results of subclavian and innominate artery angioplasty

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) is widely used in the treatment of subclavian/innominate artery obstruction, but factors of long-term PTA outcome are poorly understood. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of PTA on symptom resolution and identify determinants of long-term outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventy-six lesions were treated in 75 patients (58.7% men) aged 60 +/- 8.5 years. PTA was successful in 70 (93.3%) patients, including 58/58 (100%) stenotic lesions and 13/18 (72.2%) occlusions. The mean stenosis grade (QCA) was reduced from 78.9% +/- 16.6% to 13.5% +/- 10.7% (P < 0.01). A great majority of lesions (87.1%) were stented. In 5 (7.1%) high-risk lesions a proximal or distal neuroprotection system was used. There were no strokes or embolic events. Minor complications occurred in 7 (9.3%) cases. Fifty-seven (89%) of 64 symptomatic patients had complete symptom resolution. The mean follow-up was 24.4 +/- 15.5 months (up to 66 months). Ten restenoses (15.6%), including 9 (13.8%) in-stent restenoses and 1 (16.7%) restenosis after balloon angioplasty, were diagnosed in 64 patients and followed up for at least 6 months. Nine symptomatic restenoses were successfully treated with repeated angioplasty. Cox multivariable analysis revealed the following independent predictors of restenosis: implantation of more than one stent (P = 0.005), low stent diameter (P = 0.088), and postprocedural systolic blood pressure difference between upper extremities (P = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

PTA is a safe and effective method for the treatment of the subclavian/innominate artery obstruction and leads to symptom resolution in majority of patients. Restenosis is not frequent and it can be effectively treated with repeat angioplasty. Low stent diameter, implantation of two stents, and upper limb systolic blood pressure difference are independent predictors of restenosis.

Primary Stenting of Subclavian and Innominate Artery Occlusive Disease: A Single Center?s Experience

PURPOSE

To review immediate and midterm results of primary stenting for innominate and subclavian artery occlusive lesions.

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected from 48 consecutive symptomatic patients (27 men and 21 women, median age 64 years) having 49 subclavian and innominate artery lesions treated with stenting. Of the patients 52% had concomitant ischemic heart disease, and 30% had carotid and/or vertebral artery disease. Indication for treatment was vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) in 16.6% of the patients; upper limb ischemia (ULI) in 31.3%; VBI and ULI in 12.5%; transient ischemic attack in 16.7%; angina in 12.5% before or after left internal mammary artery-to-coronary artery bypass grafting; and leg claudication in 10.4% before or after axillofemoral bypass grafting. Balloon-expandable stents were used in 44 lesions and self-expandable stents in 5 lesions. In total, 53 stents were placed in 48 patients.

RESULTS

Technical success was 96%, and clinical success 94%. We encountered four complications (two puncture site hematomas, one distal hand embolization and one transient cerebral ischemia). Two patients died within 30 days from other causes, and seven patients were lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 16.7 months (range 0.3 to 68.2). Five patients had recurrent lesions treated by surgical (n = 2) or endovascular (n = 3) means. Cumulative primary patency rate was 91.7% and 77% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Cumulative secondary patency rate was 96.5% and 91.7% at 12 and 24 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Stenting of subclavian and innominate artery lesions resulted in immediate resolution of patients' symptoms with durable midterm effect and few complications in a larger patient group with serious comorbid conditions.

Crush stenting of bifurcational left subclavian-vertebral artery stenosis

Left internal mammary artery (LIMA) has the best long-term patency in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Stenosis of the proximal left subclavian artery (SA) may reduce flow to the LIMA, causing myocardial ischemia. We report a novel technique (crush stenting) for the treatment of a complex bifurcational left SA-vertebral artery (VA) stenosis in the presence of a patent LIMA bypass conduit. This technique limited plaque shifting, restored normal flow to all vessels, including the LIMA, and avoided devastating consequences of VA occlusion.

Subclavian artery stenting: factors influencing long-term outcome

This study provides extended follow-up of a nonrandomized series of symptomatic patients who underwent subclavian stent-supported angioplasty (SSA) with emphasis on preprocedure factors that may have influenced outcome. The endpoints of mortality and restenosis were analyzed using backward stepwise logistic regression with the following clinical variables: coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic renal insufficiency/failure, and hypothyroidism. Restenosis is reported based on prospective serial noninvasive studies and/or angiography. Mortality was evaluated by retrospective database review and inquiry to the State Department of Health and Human Services' statistical registry in patients who were lost to follow-up. Over a 9-year period (mean follow-up, 36.1 +/- 30.4 months; maximum observation, 109.5 months), 101 stents were placed in 91 consecutive patients (37 male, 54 female). The mean age at intervention was 62.03 +/- 9.3. The procedure was technically successful in 89 patients 97% (mean pre- and postoperative stenosis and pressure gradients were 90.2% +/- 9.4% vs. 3.7% +/- 6.6%, P < 0.001, and 59.9 +/- 35.2 vs. 0 mm Hg, P < 0.001, respectively), with 13 minor complications and no immediate major complications. One patient died of unrelated causes within 30 days. Per Kaplan-Meier method, for years 1 through 5, the rates of overall patency were 96%, 91%, 86%, 77%, and 72%; likewise, overall patient survival was 93%, 88%, 8%4, 81%, and 76%. No clear predictors for restenosis were discovered, although a trend toward higher recurrence was noted in women (18.5% in female vs. and 8.6% in male; P > 0.05), but the same were less likely to die during follow-up (P > 0.001). Also, the presence of hypothyroidism (P = 0.004) and increasing age (P = 0.068) were positively correlated with all-cause mortality. This study suggests that SSA is predictable, safe, and durable. The diagnosis of symptomatic subclavian disease is of prognostic importance, with age and male gender representing important predictors of all-cause long-term mortality. The strong association of increased mortality with hypothyroidism is difficult to discard and raises the question of a yet to be described thyroid steal phenomena.

Angioplasty of an asymptomatic total occlusion of the left subclavian artery to provide access for coronary angiography and intervention: A case report

Reports and follow-up of angioplasty and stenting of asymptomatic totally occluded subclavian arteries are limited. We present a case of unstable angina and arterial occlusion of all four extremities treated with subclavian angioplasty and stenting with subsequent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. Twelve-month follow-up is also provided.

Endovascular Recanalization of Subclavian Artery Occlusions

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty for subclavian stenosis achieves satisfactory procedural success rates except for total occlusion. Seven lesions in six consecutive patients who underwent stenting for subclavian total occlusion were reviewed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of endovascular stenting. Six lesions were treated using Palmaz stents, and one with the combination of a Palmaz and a SMART stent. Procedural success (residual stenosis < 30%) was achieved for all lesions. The only neurological complication was an embolism in a branch of the posterior cerebral artery, which resulted in homonymous hemianopsia. Follow-up angiography over 6 months after the stenting for five lesions found one in-stent re-occlusion and one ostial restenosis due to elastic recoil. No patient had any new or recurrent symptoms except for recurrent upper limb ischemia due to the case of in-stent re-occlusion during the clinical follow-up period of 1 to 52 months (mean 16.6 months). This complication was resolved by a second treatment. Our limited experience suggests that stenting can redilate even cases of angiographical total occlusion of the proximal segment of the subclavian artery.

Percutaneous recanalization of chronic subclavian artery occlusion using optical coherence reflectometry-guided radiofrequency ablation guidewire

Subclavian artery lesion that is associated with low complication rate could be treated by percutaneous intervention effectively. However, the success of endovascular therapy for occlusive lesion may be limited by failure to cross with a guidewire. We describe the use of a system using optical coherence reflectometry for navigation and radiofrequency ablation to enable wire passage through subclavian artery occlusion that could not be crossed by conventional guidewires.

Endovascular therapy in prevention and management of coronary-subclavian steal

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) who have proximal subclavian artery stenosis (SAS) is not well established. SAS may lead to flow reversal through a patent in situ internal mammary artery graft, resulting in myocardial ischemia (coronary-subclavian steal). We review our experience in prevention and management of coronary-subclavian steal.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who received treatment of symptomatic coronary-subclavian steal were reviewed. Patients who underwent subclavian artery revascularization before CABG were also included in our review. Patient demographic data, findings at presentation, imaging and treatment methods, and short-term and intermediate-term results were analyzed.

RESULTS

Over 4 years, 14 patients with combined subclavian and coronary artery disease were identified. Nine patients had angina (n = 8) and/or congestive heart failure (n = 2) after CABG (post-CABG group). Four patients underwent treatment of SAS and one underwent treatment of recurrent stenosis before or during CABG (pre-CABG group). Among this pre-CABG group, one patient had symptoms of left arm claudication; the other four patients had no symptoms. A blood pressure gradient was commonly noted between both arms. An angiogram confirmed the proximal location of SAS in all patients, and established the presence of flow reversal in a patent internal mammary artery graft in the post-CABG group. Operative management consisted of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting of the subclavian lesion in 11 patients, PTA only in 2 patients, and carotid-subclavian bypass grafting in 1 patient. No known perioperative complications or morbidity was encountered in either group. Mean follow-up was 29 months, during which stenosis recurred in two patients, along with associated cardiac symptoms. In both patients repeat angioplasty was successful, for an assisted primary patency rate of 100%.

CONCLUSION

PTA and stenting to treat SAS appears to provide effective protection from and treatment of coronary-subclavian steal over the short and intermediate terms. A surveillance program is essential because of the risk for recurrent stenosis. Continued follow-up is necessary to determine long-term efficacy of this treatment compared with more conventional surgical approaches.

Treatment of subclavian steal syndrome with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting: case report

Subclavian steal syndrome refers to the association of neurological symptoms related to vertebrobasilar insufficiency and the phenomenon of subclavian steal. We report the case of a 63 year-old male patient that presented subclavian steal syndrome and severe proximal (80%) stenosis of the left subclavian artery. The patient was submitted to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting on the left SA. The procedure was well tolerated and immediately afterwards, there was complete remission of the symptoms and of the phenomenon of subclavian steal evaluated by angiography and transcranial doppler. We propose that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting placement is a good therapeutic option for subclavian steal syndrome.

[Endovascular procedures in the treatment of obstructive lesions of the brachiocephalic arteries]

BACKGROUND

To assess the early effects, possible risks, and long term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of brachiocephalic trunk (BT) and subclavian arteries (SA).

METHODS

During the period of 11 years, in 92 patients (57 males--62%, mean age 53.5 +/- 7.8 years) 93 PTA of SA/BT were performed; 70 (75%) lesions were stenosis, while 23 (25%) lesions were occlusions with mean diameter stenosis percent of 83.1 +/- 6.2%. Clinical indications were: vertebrobasilar insufficiency (n = 57), upper limb ischemia (n = 40), coronary steal syndrome (n = 4) and scheduled aorto-coronary bypass, using internal thoracic artery (ITA) (n = 4 asymptomatic patients). Mean lesion length was 22 +/- 8 mm.

RESULTS

Eighty one (87%) out of 93 lesions were successfully dilated; all of 12 (13%) failures were due to unsuccessful recanalisation of occluded arteries. In 10 patients 10 stents were implanted (2 in BT and 8 in left SA). There were 6 (6.5%) procedural complications: 1 dissection, 1 thrombosis of the left SA, transient ischemic attack in 2 patients, and 2 cases of dislocation of atheromatous plaque from the right SA into the right common carotid artery. During the follow-up of 48 +/- 3 months, 16(20%) restenoses were treated by PTA (n = 7) or operatively (n = 9). Primary and secondary patency for all lesions treated during 11 years was 87% and 80%, respectively (stenosis: 97% and 89%; occlusions: 58% and 58%).

CONCLUSION

PTA with or without stenting was relatively simple, efficient and safe procedure. It required short hospitalization with low treatment costs. If any of suboptimal results or chronic occlusions were present, the implantation of endovascular stents should have been considered.

Angiographic prevalence and clinical predictors of left subclavian stenosis in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization

The angiographic prevalence, clinical predictors, and sensitivity and specificity of a bilateral arm blood pressure differential for predicting proximal left subclavian artery stenosis were established in 492 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Seventeen subjects (3.5%) in the overall population and nine subjects (5.3%) with potential surgical coronary disease had proximal left subclavian stenosis. Precatheterization evidence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was the only predictor of subclavian stenosis in the overall population (P < 0.001; OR = 7.9; 95% CI = 2.6-24.3) and in patients with potential surgical coronary disease (P = 0.04; OR = 5.4; 95% CI = 1.1-27.2). Both a bilateral blood pressure differential of > 10 mm Hg and of > or =20 mm Hg had a good specificity but a poor sensitivity for predicting left subclavian stenosis. Thus, left subclavian angiography should be performed in patients with surgical coronary disease with either an arm blood pressure differential of > 10 mm Hg or with other precatheterization evidence of PVD. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:8-11.

Reconstructive surgery of the extracranial arteries

The first carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is usually accredited to Eastcott who reported in 1954 the successful incision of a diseased carotid bulb with end-to-end anastomosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) to the common carotid artery (CCA). During the following years surgeons were quick to adopt and improve the intuitively attractive procedure. But by the early to mid 1980s several leading neurologists began to question the growing number of CEAs performed at that time. Six major CEA trials were then designed which are now completed or nearing completion. Most conclusive data are available from the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) for symptomatic carotid disease, and from the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study (ACAS) for asymptomatic carotid disease. The key result of these studies is that CEA is beneficial to high grade symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis. While the benefit in symptomatic disease is clear, it may be negligible in asymptomatic patients suffering from other medical conditions, the most important being coronary artery disease. Since the conclusions from the different studies vary significantly, guidelines and recommendations with regard to CEA have been issued by a number of interest groups, so-called consensus conferences. The best known guidelines are published by the American Heart Association (AHA). However, the practice of interest groups to issue guidelines is currently being criticized, the main reason being that interest groups have different ideas and all claim the right to issue guidelines. At present we recommend CEA for symptomatic high-grade stenosis in patients without significant coincident disease. With regard to asymptomatic stenosis we suggest surgery to otherwise healthy patients if the stenosis is very narrow or progressive. Preoperative evaluation has changed over the years. Currently we recommend duplex sonography in combination with intra- and extracranial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Concurrent coronary artery disease is a major consideration in the perioperative management, and the use of a specific algorithm is recommended. Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia with intraoperative monitoring such as electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial Doppler (TCD). A temporary intraluminal shunt is used selectively if after cross-clamping the flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) falls to below 30 to 40% of baseline. For years we employed routine barbiturate neuroprotection during cross-clamping. At the present time we use barbiturate selectively, if the flow velocity in the MCA falls to below 30 to 40% of baseline and if the use of a temporary intraluminal shunt is not possible due to difficult anatomic conditions. The reason to abandon systematic barbiturate protection was to accelerate recovery from anaesthesia. Our patients are monitored overnight on the ICU or a surveillance unit. Routine hospitalization after surgery is 5 to 7 days with a control duplex sonography being performed prior to discharge. A number of details with regard to surgical technique and perioperative management are a matter of discussion. Our surgical routine is described here step by step. Such management resulted in 6 major complications among the 402 cases with 4 of cardiopulmonary and 2 of cerebrovascular origin. For the future we can expect the development of percutaneous transluminal techniques competing with standard carotid endarterectomy. At the present time several comparative studies are under way. Irrespective of the technical approach to treat carotid stenosis, several other issues have to be clarified before long. One of the major unresolved items is the timing of treatment after completed stroke. In this regard prospective trials need to be performed. Although numerically not as important as carotid stenosis, vertebral artery (VA) and subclavian artery (SA) stenoses are more and more accepted as indication for surgical

Subclavian artery stenting: Immediate and mid term clinical follow-up results

BACKGROUND: Intravascular stents are increasingly being used to treat subclavian artery obstructive disease. This study aimed to assess the immediate and mid-term clinical outcome of subclavian artery stenting. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total occlusion of the subclavian artery was seen in 7 (28%) out of the 25 consecutive patients treated for subclavican artery stenosis. Mean lesion length was 14 +/- 4.3 mm. The mean preprocedure diameter stenosis was reduced from 83.2 +/- 14.9% to 9.6 +/- 5.4% postprocedure. Procedural success was achieved in all patients. Clinical follow-up was obtained in all patients. The initial success was maintained at follow-up (mean = 12 +/- 4 months) in 24 (96%) patients. Recurrence of symptoms occurred in 1 (4%) patient who had an angiographically documented restenosis four months after the procedure. It was successfully redilated. CONCLUSION: Stenting for subclavian artery obstructive disease is safe, technically feasible and has favorable clinical outcomes. It may be considered as the therapy of choice for subclavian artery obstructive disease.

Carotid-subclavian bypass grafting with polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for symptomatic subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion: a 20-year experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Since the advent of subclavian artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stenting, several authorities advocate it as the treatment of choice for patients with subclavian artery disease, claiming results equal to or better than those of reconstructive vascular surgery. However, most of their quoted surgical series included patients who may have other brachiocephalic disease who were treated nonuniformly by means of various bypass grafts with different grafts in the same series (eg, Dacron, polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], or vein). In this study, we analyze the long-term results of a large series of carotid-subclavian bypass grafts for subclavian artery disease in which PTFE was uniformly used; the study can be used as a future reference to compare the results of subclavian artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stenting.

PATIENT POPULATION AND METHODS

Fifty-one patients with symptomatic subclavian artery disease (40 occlusions and 11 stenoses) who were treated with carotid-subclavian bypass grafts (PTFE [Goretex]) during a 20-year period were analyzed. Graft patency was determined clinically and confirmed with Doppler scanning pressures and duplex ultrasound scanning. The cumulative patency, overall survival, and symptom-free survival rates were calculated with the life table method.

RESULTS

Indications for surgery were arm ischemia in 34 patients (67%), vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) in 27 (53%), and symptomatic subclavian steal in 7 (14%). A combination of arm ischemia and VBI occurred in 17 (33%) of these patients. The mean follow-up was 7.7 years with a median of 7.0 years (range, 1-19 years). The 30-day morbidity rate was 6%, with no perioperative stroke or mortality. Immediate relief of symptoms was achieved in 100% of patients; however, four patients (8%) had late recurrent symptoms (three with VBI). The primary patency and secondary patency rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 100%, 98%, 96%, and 92% and 100%, 98%, 98%, and 95%, respectively. The symptom-free survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 100%, 96%, 82%, and 47%, respectively. The overall survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 100%, 98%, 86%, and 57%. The mean hospital stay was 3.5 days in the late 70s and 80s and 2.1 days in the 90s (P <. 001).

CONCLUSIONS

Carotid-subclavian bypass grafts with PTFE grafts for subclavian artery disease are safe, effective, and durable and should remain the procedure of choice, particularly in good-risk patients.

Complicated stent supported cerebrovascular angioplasty: case analyses and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Hemodynamic lesions of the cervicocerebral vasculature are currently being treated with stent supported percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. These procedures have met with increasing success when compared to the risks and morbidity of more invasive surgical approaches. The versatility of stent-supported angioplasty as a primary therapeutic modality is examined in the following complex cases.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We present four cases involving cervical angioplasty with emergent or adjunctive stent placement. Two cases involved the subclavian arteries, whereas the others involved the vertebral and internal carotid arteries. In our experience, complications of cervicocerebral artery angioplasty have been successfully managed by stent placement.

CONCLUSION

Our cases demonstrate the emerging role of cervical angioplasty and stent implantation as a successful therapeutic modality, highlighted in these complex cases.

A technique to retrieve stents dislodged in the coronary artery followed by fixation in the iliac artery by means of balloon angioplasty and peripheral stent deployment

An unwelcome complication of the increasingly applied technique of coronary stenting is stent dislodgment, which may cause arterial occlusion or distal embolization, both with potentially adverse sequel. Stent dislodgment tends to occur when negotiating a tortuous artery with a balloon-mounted stent, especially if the artery is irregularly calcified or when applying a rigid stent. We have successfully applied in several patients at our laboratory a technique to retrieve a dislodged stent from the coronary artery, tow it to the iliac artery, and then deploy it locally by a peripheral balloon when retrieval through the vascular sheath seems impossible. Finally, the retrieved stent is secured by local anchoring with a peripheral stent. This technique was found to be useful and may prevent further complications and more costly interventions and hence result in a more benign clinical course. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 49:77-81, 2000.

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.

Percutaneous revascularization of atherosclerotic obstruction of aortic arch vessels

OBJECTIVES

To compare stenting of aortic arch vessel obstruction with surgical therapy and to establish recommendations for treatment.

BACKGROUND

Though surgery has been considered to be the procedure of choice for subclavian and brachiocephalic obstruction, little work has been done to compare it with stenting.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with symptomatic aortic arch vessel stenosis or occlusion were treated with stenting, followed by periodic clinical follow-up and noninvasive arterial Doppler studies. Data were compared with the results as shown in a systematic review of a published series of surgery and stenting procedures which included comparison of technical success, complications, mortality and patency.

RESULTS

Primary success in our series was 100% with improvement in mean stenosis from 84+/-11% to 1+/-5% and mean arm systolic blood pressure difference from 44+/-16 mm Hg to 3+/-3 mm Hg. There were no major complications (death, stroke, TIA, stent thrombosis or myocardial infarction). At follow-up (mean 17 months), all patients were asymptomatic with 100% primary patency. Literature review demonstrates equivalent patency and complications in the other published series of stenting. In contrast, there was a similar patency but overall incidence of stroke of 3+/-4% and death of 2+/-2% in the published surgical series.

CONCLUSIONS

Subclavian or brachiocephalic artery obstruction can be effectively treated by primary stenting or surgery. Comparison of stenting and the surgical experience demonstrates equal effectiveness but fewer complications and suggests that stenting should be considered as first line therapy for subclavian or brachiocephalic obstruction.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the subclavian arteries

PURPOSE

To review the feasibility, risks, and long-term results of subclavian artery angioplasty with and without Palmaz stent placement.

METHODS

Over a 9-year period, 113 patients (67 males; mean age 63 +/- 13 years) underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty of subclavian occlusive lesions for a variety of indications: vertebrobasilar insufficiency (n = 70), upper limb ischemia (n = 50), coronary steal syndrome (n = 6), or anticipated coronary artery bypass grafting using the internal mammary artery in 12 asymptomatic patients. There were 94 (83%) stenoses and 19 (17%) occlusions with a mean percent stenosis of 80.1% +/- 7.4% (range 70 to 100). Mean lesion length was 24 +/- 8 mm (range 10 to 50). Beginning in 1989, stents were implanted for suboptimal dilation; in 1995, stenting became routine.

RESULTS

Overall, 103 (91%) of 113 lesions were successfully treated; 10 (53%) occlusions could not be recanalized. Fifty-one stents were implanted in 46 patients. There were 3 (2.6%) procedural complications: a transient ischemic attack, one major (fatal) stroke, and an arterial thrombosis 24 hours after the procedure (treated medically) (0.9% major stroke and death rate). During a mean 4.3-year follow-up (range to 10), 16 (15.5%) restenoses were treated with angioplasty (n = 4), stenting (n = 7), or surgery (n = 5). Primary and secondary patencies for all treated lesions (n = 113) at 8 years were 75% and 81%, respectively; in patients without initial stent placement, the rates were 69% and 76%, while in those with stents, the rates rose slightly to 87% and 94% at 2.5 years (NS). Patency rates for all 103 recanalized lesions were 83% and 90% at 8 years (81% and 90% without stent and 87% and 94% with stent at 2.5 years, respectively [NS]).

CONCLUSIONS

Balloon angioplasty with or without stenting is safe and effective for treating subclavian artery occlusive diseases with good long-term patency. Recanalization of occlusions is more difficult to achieve. Stents (implanted only for suboptimal dilation) do not seem to improve long-term patency.

Immediate and late outcomes of subclavian artery stenting

Stenting for subclavian artery occlusive disease is being increasingly utilized. To determine the immediate and late outcome of subclavian artery stenting, we studied 38 consecutive patients in whom the procedure was attempted. Technical and clinical success was achieved in 35 patients without complications. Failures occurred only in completely occluded arteries. Late clinical success was demonstrated in 31 patients. Three patients had recurrent symptoms. Two had angiographic restenosis within 4 months of the procedure; both were successfully redilated. The third patient had a new lesion, which was successfully stented. One patient died from lung cancer 10 months after the procedure. We conclude that stenting for subclavian artery occlusive disease has favorable immediate and late clinical outcomes and may be considered as a primary therapy.

Angioplasty and primary stenting of the subclavian, innominate, and common carotid arteries in 83 patients

PURPOSE

The initial and long-term results of angioplasty and primary stenting for the treatment of occlusive lesions involving the supra-aortic trunks were studied.

METHODS

All patients in whom angioplasty and stenting of the supra-aortic trunks was attempted were included in a prospective registry. Results are, therefore, reported on an intent-to-treat basis. The preprocedural and postprocedural clinical records, arteriograms, and noninvasive vascular laboratory examinations of 83 patients (41 men [49.4%] and 42 women [50.6%]; mean age at intervention, 63 years) in whom endovascular repair of the subclavian (66, 75.9%), left common carotid (14, 16.1%), and innominate (7, 8.0%) arteries was attempted were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Initial technical success was achieved in 82 of 87 procedures (94.3%). The inability to cross 4 complete subclavian occlusions and the iatrogenic dissection of 1 common carotid artery lesion accounted for the 5 initial failures. Complications occurred in 17.8% of 73 subclavian and innominate procedures, including access-site bleeding in 6 and distal embolization in 2. Ischemic strokes occurred in 2 of 14 common carotid interventions (14.3%), both of which were performed in conjunction with ipsilateral carotid bifurcation endarterectomy. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.8% for the entire group. By means of life-table analysis, 84% of the subclavian and innominate interventions, including initial failures, remain patent by objective means at 35 months. No patients have required reintervention or surgical conversion for recurrence of symptoms. Of the 11 patients available for follow-up study who underwent common carotid interventions, 10 remain stroke-free at a mean of 14.3 months.

CONCLUSION

Angioplasty and primary stenting of the subclavian and innominate arteries can be performed with relative safety and expectations of satisfactory midterm success. Endovascular repair of common carotid artery lesions can be performed with a high degree of technical success, but should be approached with caution when performed in conjunction with ipsilateral bifurcation endarterectomy.

Primary stenting for complex atherosclerotic plaques in aortic and iliac stenoses

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of primary stenting for complex atherosclerotic plaques in aortic and iliac stenoses that are not amenable to balloon angioplasty alone.

METHODS

Nineteen patients with complex atherosclerotic plaques were treated with a Palmaz stent (n = 19), Wallstent (n = 1), Strecker stent (n = 1), or Memotherm stent (n = 1). A total of 22 stenoses presenting with complex plaque morphology including ulcerated plaques, ulcerated plaques with focal aneurysms, plaques with heavy calcification, severely eccentric plaques, plaques with overhanging edge, and plaques with spontaneous dissection were stented. The lesions were in the aorta (n = 1), common iliac artery (n = 19), or external iliac artery (n = 2).

RESULTS

Immediate angiography after stent placement revealed restoration of patency of the stented segment. Focal aneurysms and ulcerated areas were occluded in the follow-up angiographies obtained 4-12 weeks after the procedure. In one case with poor distal runoff and multiple complex lesions of the iliac artery, subacute occlusion occurred. Clinical and angiographic follow-up (3-46 months) revealed patency of all other stented segments.

CONCLUSION

Primary stenting is an effective and reliable approach for complex plaques in stenoses. Patency of the arterial segment with a smooth lumen can be created without the risk of acute complications such as distal embolization, dissection, or occlusion.