Clinical research of angioplasty and stenting in the treatment for symptomatic severe subclavian artery stenosis

Background The major clinical presentation of severe subclavian artery stenosis is subclavian steal syndrome (SSS). At present, stent implantation has become a promising method for this disease. The aim of this article is to investigate the effectiveness and safeness of stent implantation in the treatment for symptomatic severe subclavian artery stenosis. Methods Clinical data of 20 patients with symptomatic severe subclavian artery stenosis treated via angioplasty and stenting from June 2012 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The procedure was technically successful in all of the 20 cases. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) suggested the residual ratio of subclavian artery stenosis was < 20%. Straight-forward blood flow in vertebral artery, disappeared subclavian steal symptom and fluent blood flow in intracranial segment of ipsilateral vertebral artery were also seen. After procedure no stent-related complications were found. During the follow-up study from 10 days to 6 months, vessel ultrasound and computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed no in-stent restenosis, vessels with good form and fluent blood flow. Conclusion Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting is a minimally invasive, safe and effective method in the treatment for severe subclavian artery stenosis.