[Refractory angina caused by subclavian-coronary steal syndrome treated with angioplasty and stent]

Síndrome do roubo coronário-subclávio: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

O fenômeno do roubo coronário-subclávio é definido como o fluxo sanguíneo invertido de uma artéria coronária, por meio de enxerto de artéria mamária interna em direção à subclávia médio-distal, e ocorre devido à estenose significativa ou oclusão total da porção proximal desta última. É uma causa rara, mas significante, de isquemia cardíaca após cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica e pode originar uma síndrome de mesmo nome e com manifestações típicas. Relatou-se o caso de um paciente com esta enfermidade, que foi submetido à angioplastia percutânea com implante de stent. Também revisou-se a literatura a respeito.

The coronary-subclavian-vertebral steal syndrome (CSVSS)

OBJECTIVE

Reverse flow in the internal thoracic artery (ITA) after coronary bypass surgery due to an occlusion or severe stenosis of the subclavian artery is a rare situation. Symptoms can be recurrent and intermittent angina pectoris in the case of a coronary-subclavian steal (CSSS) or-in addition with cerebral symptoms-in the case of a coronary-subclavian-vertebral steal syndrome (CSVSS).

METHOD

We describe the cases of four patients with recurrent angina pectoris 5, 11, and 14 years as well as directly after coronary bypass surgery with LITA grafts to LAD. In two patients there was the additional aspect of vertebral steal symptoms with dizziness and intermittent drop attacks.

RESULTS

A PTA of the subclavian occlusions in three cases was not feasible, so that three patients were operated on by extrathoracal approach and carotido-subclavian bypass (CSB) in two cases, and local thrombendarteriectomy of the subclavian and vertebral artery (TEA)+ -patchplasty in one case. Patient 4 was treated by PTA and stent placement into the subclavian artery. Antegrade flow in all four LITAs could be achieved resulting in immediate relief from angina pectoris and cerebral symptoms. Patients 1 and 3 showed no further symptoms with equal BP of the upper extremities and anterograde flow in the LITA grafts and vertebral artery at 10-month follow-up. Patient 2 unfortunately died from an unrelated cause (asthmatic state) 4 months after the operation despite an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of a CSSS or CSVSS after coronary bypass surgery with retrograde flow in the ITA graft (as described in our four patients) is a rare, but potentially hazardous, situation. If the subclavian occlusion is not amenable to endovascular strategies, the extrathoracal approach by CSB or local TEA and patchplasty provides an excellent means with good midterm and long-term results.