Bilateral subclavian steal syndrome through different paths and from different sites--a case report

Cases of cerebro-subclavian steal syndrome have been reported in the medical literature since 1960. This most often occurs on the left side because of the higher rate of involvement of the left subclavian artery in comparison to the other brachiocephalic branches of the aortic arch. With the use of the internal mammory artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass, in the past three decades increasing numbers of coronary-subclavian steal in addition to the cerebro-subclavian steal have been observed. The authors report a case of bilateral subclavian steal syndrome through both vertebral arteries, the right common carotid artery, and the left internal mammory artery, without significant signs and symptoms of cerebral ischemia or anginal pain.