[The thoracic outlet compression syndrome and its vascular complications]

The costoclavicular compression syndrome and the cervical rib syndrome can cause arterial complications of the subclavian artery: mural thrombosis, occlusion and aneurysma. These complications can result in peripheral emboli or cerebrovascular insufficiency. Such sequelae can be avoided by timely surgical treatment of these compression syndromes. The therapy of choice is transaxillary rib resection. The same axillary approach can also be used for directly reconstructing the subclavian artery.