Efficacy of palmaz stent deployment for subclavian artery stenosis

Percutaneous angioplasty is a useful method for improvement of posterior circulation of the brain in subclavian artery stenosis and occlusion. Recently, the Palmaz stent was introduced for peripheral vessels stenosis. We evaluated the efficacy and care point of Palmaz stent deployment for subclavian artery stenosis in seven cases (5 stenosis and 2 occlusion) with symptoms and a mean age of 65.1 years. The stents could be deployed exactly at the stenotic region in all cases. The pressure gradient disappeared in all cases, and the clots were fixed between vessel wall and stent. Antegrade circulation and significant clinical symptoms improvement were obtained in all cases. In angioplasty of subclavian artery stenosis, as compared with balloon angioplasty alone, Palmaz stent is a very useful device with fewer complications including distal thrombosis of the vertebrobasilar circulation.