Subclavian artery catheterization: a new approach for endovascular procedures

Percutaneous access to the arterial system for endovascular procedures is usually achieved through the femoral arteries. When femoral access is precluded, the axillary or brachial arteries serve as alternatives. Complications associated with the use of the latter arteries have led us to develop subclavian arterial catheterization.

From 1978 to 1993, 569 patients underwent angiography via the subclavian artery (> 99% left subclavian artery); 134 were studies of the aortic arch and brachiocephalic vessels; 435 studies involved the descending and abdominal aorta and its branches and runoff. Coronary arteriography was also feasible. Since 1986, 44 patients have undergone endovascular procedures: 33 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties of the visceral, iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries and 11 thrombolytic procedures of aortofemoral graft limbs (n = 3) and femoral distal bypasses (n = 8) were performed. Complications (1.2%) included partial pneumothorax (n = 2), hemorrhage requiring operative control (n = 2), causalgia (n = 1) and embolization (n = 2).

Whenever percutaneous femoral catheterization cannot be achieved or an alternate access point is indicated, we select the subclavian approach as an alternative to axillary, brachial or translumbar access. It is safe, expeditious, and versatile for virtually all types of systemic and cardiac catheterization; it is also applicable to thrombolysis and balloon angioplasty.