[Embolisation of the finger arteries in the thoracic outlet syndrome]

Angiographic studies were undertaken in 18 patients with the signs of a thoracic outlet syndrome due to compression of the subclavian artery, associated with Raynaud's phenomenon. They demonstrated occlusion of the digital arteries in more than half the cases, on the side of the subclavian compression. In three patients with ischaemic pain in the fingers of only a few hours' or days' duration arteriography demonstrated fresh embolisation from the compressed subclavian artery.