Stenting for chronic total occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery

We report the results of 26 patients who underwent stent deployment for chronic total occlusion of proximal subclavian artery. From January 1998 to October 2005, 26 patients (18 male; mean age, 62.7 years, range 22 to 83 years), 28 lesions, underwent 29 procedures of stenting for chronic total occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery.Twenty-three patients had symptoms of claudication in their arm, no patients had subclavian steal syndrome.A brachial approach was used in 21 procedures, a femoral approach was used in five procedures, and combined femoral-brachial approach was required in three procedures. Primary stent deployment was success in 24 lesions (85.7%), and secondary procedure was success in one patient, totally 25 lesions (89.3%) were successfully treated by stenting. Procedure related complication occurred in four cases, including stent migration without symptoms in two procedures, hemianopsia on next day in a case, and TIA on unclear reason in one case. Permanent morbidity rate is 3.4% in procedure. Target lesion re-treatment required in three lesions, caused by subacute thrombosis, in-stent-restenosis, and dissection of the vessel by stent edge. The cases of subacute thrombosis and in-stent-restenosis were treated by re-PTA, and the case of dissection was treated by additional stenting. Secondary patency was 100%. We conclude that stenting for chronic total occlusion of subclavian arteries appears feasible and safe.