[Surgical treatment of occlusive lesions of the brahciocephalic trunk]

Surgery was performed on 41 patients for an occlusive process in the brachycephalic trunk. As concerns the clinical form of the occlusive process these patients were divided into 4 groups, viz. with symptomless occlusion--4, with transitory form--18, with chronic cerebro-vascular insufficiency--5 and with complete ischemic stroke--14. The diagnosis was established on the ground of routine clinical and instrumental examination findings. The authors consider an angiographic investigation of the patients to be indispensible. In the presence of an angiographically confirmed occlusion of the brachycephalic trunk the authors hold indicated reconstructive surgery in patients of all the mentioned clinical groups. As a basic type of the reconstructive operation is regarded resection of the trunk with prosthetics. The circulation could be restored in all of the patients operated upon. Late follow-up of the surgically treated patients (up to 10 years) proves that in the treatment of arterial insufficiency of the brain the reconstructive operation on the occluded brachycephalic trunk is a highly effective method.