Extracranial arterial duplex sonographic imaging was performed on a woman in her early 80s with atherosclerosis, arterial. The term subclavian steal syndrome is applied when reversed vertebral artery flow causes cerebral ischemia with associated symptoms of. Review of coronary subclavian steal syndrome journal of cardiology. Subclavian steal syndrome brachial basilar insufficiency. The symptoms of cerebral vascular insufficiency not enough blood to the brain when the patient exercises an arm, due to obstruction of the subclavian artery before the origin the takeoff of the vertebral artery. Subclavian steal syndrome sss refers to a vascular disorder, a rare form of periphery artery disease in which a blockage is present in a critical location within one of the subclavian arteries which gives rise to problems involving the arm and the brain. In some cases, patients may develop upperlimb ischemic symptoms due to reduced arterial flow in the setting of subclavian artery occlusion. Diagnosis and management of subclavian artery stenosis prior to coronary artery bypass grafting in the current era. Diagnosis and treatment of subclavian artery occlusive disease. Takayasu arteritis presenting as subclavian steal syndrome has been rarely reported in the literature. Subclavian steal syndrome the following case study was a clinical presentation in which i considered subclavian steal syndrome sss within my differential diagnosis.
A forgotten vascular disease with important clinical. Subclavian steal syndrome sss, also called subclavian steal phenomenon or subclavian steal stenoocclusive disease, is a constellation of signs and symptoms that. Percutaneous management of takayasu arteritis presenting with. Subclavian steal syndrome is a rare condition causing syncope or neurological deficits when the blood supply to the affected arm is increased through exercise. Subclavian steal syndrome is a condition in which the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery narrows or becomes occluded, usually due to atherosclerosis. Therefore, with a simple physical examination, the clinician can effectively eliminate significant subclavian arterial lesions without the need for angiography. Because of the location of the blockage, blood is shunted stolen away from the brain to the affected arm. Coronarysubclavian steal a coronarysubclavian steal phenomenon has been described in patients who have undergone prior coronary artery bypass surgery cabg using the internal mammary artery ima 810.
Subclavian steal syndrome subclavian steal phenomenon, subclavian steal stenoocclusive disease is a vascular syndrome caused by an occlusion in the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery, resulting in retrograde flow of blood. Subclavian steal syndrome teachmesurgeryteachmesurgery. Subclavian steal syndrome is caused by occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery with subsequent retrograde filling of the subclavian artery via the vertebral artery. Subclavian steal syndrome causes, symptoms, diagnosis. The correlation between waveform type and subclavian disease was statistically significant p 0.
The right subclavian artery was anastomosed to the right common carotid artery. In most cases, subclavian steal is asymptomatic ie, subclavian steal phenomenon, does not warrant invasive evaluation or treatment, and. Sss is an interesting presentation intertwined within a number of other pathologies that can muddy the water. Dr jamals usmle notes and match guide 3,620 views 3. Definitions, etiology, and clinical presentation sss is a hemodynamic phenomenon in which a subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion is located proximal to the origin of the ipsilateral vertebral artery. As a number of these cases are asymptomatic, the term subclavian steal syndrome is used when there is a presence of. The term subclavian steal describes retrograde blood flow in the vertebral artery associated with proximal ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis. Right subclavian steal associated with aberrant right. Subclavian steal syndrome in the pediatric age group. Subclavian steal syndrome article about subclavian steal. The subclavian steal syndrome is a rare yet wellknown phenomenon that presents when a stenoocclusive lesion of the proximal subclavian artery results in the flow reversal of the vertebral artery, giving rise to vertebrobasilar insufficiency 1,2. Vertebral artery doppler waveform changes indicating. Subclavian steal syndrome is defined as stenosis or occlusion of the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery, with consequent reversal of blood flow in the vertebral artery to supply the distal subclavian artery, resulting in neurologic symptoms.
In a healthy individual, blood pressures in both arms should be similar. Incredibles wannabe sidekick turned bad guy, from the incredibles 2004. Subclavian steal syndrome, a form of peripheral artery disease pad, is a set of symptoms caused by a blockage in one of the subclavian arteries, the large arteries that supply the arms. Symptoms of sss include vertigo during arm exertion and. Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians. Subclavian steal syndrome presentation and treatment. Subclavian steal syndrome clinical maze clinical maze. Complete understanding of the hemodynamics of sss, proper sonographic scanning technique, and knowledge of the clinical presentation of the syndrome are the key factors for a successful examination. Reivich was the first to describe the neurologic symptoms associated with the subclavian steal phenomenon. Subclavian steal syndrome occurs when there is the presence of an occlusion or narrowing in the subclavian artery. We present the case of a patient with innominate artery atherosclerotic occlusion, manifested as blood flow reversal in the vertebral and common carotid arteries. Management of the subclavian steal syndrome comment this patient showed no hyper tension and no arm claudication, nor were any other symptoms provoked by arm exercise. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of subclavian steal syndrome. The subclavian steal syndrome sss refers to a vascular disorder in which occlusion or stenosis of the subclavian artery proximal to the vertebral artery origin which is the subclavian artery causes altered vascular haemodynamics that result in retrograde blood flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery toward the upper arm, distal to the subclavian artery.
The decreased blood flow to the posterior brain and upper extremity may cause lightheadedness, dizziness, ataxia, vertigo. Symptomatic atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the. The decreased blood flow to the brain and upper extremity on the affected side can result in an array of symptoms, classified broadly as due to 1 vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Subclavian steal syndrome is said to be present when the blood flow in vertebral artery reverses due to significant stenosis or occlusion of the ipsilateral subclavian artery just before the origin of the vertebral artery. However, it is rare for patients to initially present with vascular symptoms, as a. True subclavian steal syndrome cannot occur without retrograde blood flow in a vertebral artery associated with proximal ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion. Subclavian steal syndrome an overview sciencedirect topics. This blockage results in a lack of blood reaching the ipsilateral arm through the subclavian artery, which can lead to a reversal of blood flow in the affected vertebral artery so. An invariable finding in patients with symptoms of subclavian steal syndrome is a difference in upperextremity pulses and brachial systolic blood pressures between the patients arms. In this condition, there is a reverse flow of blood in the vertebral artery or the. Subclavian steal syndrome is a relatively uncommon form of peripheral artery disease pad in which a blockage is present in a critical location within one of the subclavian arteries, causing symptoms that involve both the arm and the brain. Doublesteal syndrome represents a causative factor for blood flow compromise of the cerebral vascular bed with transient neurologic symptoms.
Vestibular rehabilitation in subclavian steal syndrome. Subclavian steal definition of subclavian steal by. The following case study was a clinical presentation in which i considered subclavian steal syndrome sss within my differential diagnosis. The case of a 50 yearold man with a subclavian steal syndrome caused by an occlusive lesion of an aberrant right subclavian artery is presented. Subclavian steal syndrome in a congenitaly anomalous. Right subclavian steal associated with aberrant right subclavian artery david m. Subclavian steal syndrome knowledge for medical students. Subclavian steal syndrome sss is a relatively rare vascular abnormality that could be challenging to diagnose. Patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage cerebral angiography was performed. The following case study was a patient that presented in clinic in the year in which i considered subclavian steal syndrome sss within my differential diagnosis. Subclavian steal syndrome radiology reference article. Subclavian steal syndrome occurs when there is an occluded subclavian artery and collateral blood flow to the distal subclavian artery and arm is provided by reversed flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery. Identifiable changes in the pulse contour of antegrade vertebral artery waveforms seem to represent the early stages of subclavian steal physiology. Sss is an interesting presentation intertwined within a number of.
The exact prevalence of subclavian steal syndrome remains unclear in the general population, but is likely rare. Multimodality imaging and endovascular treatment options. Summary sss is a reversal arterial flow due to proximal subclavian artery stenosis mostly asymptomatic symptoms my include brain, heart, and upper extremity symptoms diagnosis through history and physical examination and supported by ultrasound or angiography treatment options. Coronary steal phenomenon cardiac steal syndrome general cardiology dr jamal usmle duration. Subclavian steal syndrome and other insufficiencies. Subclavian steal syndrome definition of subclavian steal.
It was first described on 1961 by reivich in the new england journal of medicine. The subclavian steal syndrome is a wellrecognized clinical and radiographic entity that involves the left subclavian artery far more commonly than the right. The subclavian steal syndrome is a relatively common vascular disorder, with prevalence data in the literature ranging from 0. Subclavian steal phenomenon refers to stenoocclusive disease of the proximal subclavian artery with retrograde flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery subclavian steal syndrome is the same as subclavian steal phenomenon with the addition of cerebral ischemic symptoms epidemiology. Subclavian steal syndrome 5minute clinical consult.
The term subclavian steal refers to a phenomenon of flow reversal in the vertebral artery ipsilateral to a hemodynamically significant stenosis or occlusion of the prevertebral subclavian artery. Family practice notebook 2020, family practice notebook, llc. Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers. Although takayasu arteritis is an infrequent cause of the syndrome, it occurs more commonly in people of asian descent. Subclavian steal syndrome sss is a condition secondary to an occlusion in the proximal subclavian artery which leads to upperextremity blood supply to be derived by reversal of flow within the ipsilateral va. There is an increased incidence with age and the greater male. Exercising the arm causes the blood flow to reverse and the subclavian artery steals blood from the vertebral artery.