Subclavian Steal

Abstract

Five patients with subclavian artery stenosis, reversed vertebral artery blood flow, and basilar arterial insufficiency have been described. Four patients were successfully treated by arterial reconstruction. Serial angiography demonstrated in each case a stenosis of the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery, with delayed retrograde flow through this vertebral artery to the subclavian artery distally.