[A case of traumatic subclavian steal syndrome]

A 44-year-old man who had sustained injuries to the chest and left upper extremity was admitted to our hospital. The radial pulse was not palpated at the left wrist. Angiography showed occlusion of the left subclavian artery with mediastinal hematoma. The left vertebral artery filled in a retrograde direction and the distal left subclavian artery could be visualized by filling from the left vertebral artery. He had no ischemic neurological symptom but was immediately operated on to prevent hemorrhage. Through a median sternotomy the injured portion of the left subclavian artery was removed and replaced by a dacron prosthesis. The specimen represented that the artery was completely divided and occluded with thrombus. Recovery was uneventful. This was the seventh case of traumatic subclavian steal syndrome. Vascular repair should be made soon in traumatic subclavian steal syndrome because collateral circulation is poor compared with that in arteriosclerotic obstruction.