Sub Clavian (Upper Arm) Stenting
Like any other major arteries, subclavian arteries which supply blood to the brain and upper extremities (arms) are also susceptible to blockages.
Subclavian artery stenosis is a narrowing of one or both of the main arteries supplying blood to the brain and arms.
Subclavian artery stenosis can be a cause of significant morbidity as it can lead to symptomatic ischemic issues affecting the upper extremities, brain and in some cases, the heart.
Vascular occlusive disease of the subclavian artery may be asymptomatic or may be associated with symptoms of cerebral or arm ischemia.
The left subclavian artery is four times more likely to be affected than the right subclavian or innominate arteries.
Obstructive disease of these arteries affects other aortic arch vessels, namely the carotid or vertebral arteries,also the likelihood of steal or ischemic symptoms drastically increases.
Your doctor may also suspect a problem if you have:
The 2 most common causes of subclavian artery stenosis are:
Following people are at high risk of subclavian artery stenosis vascular disease and should get themselves evaluated by expert doctors:
While the definitive diagnosis typically rests on imaging, the importance of a thorough physical exam must not be underscored.
On examination, patients can display unequal arm blood pressures, absent or significantly diminished pulses (axillary, brachial and radial/ulnar) in comparison to the contralateral arm, and cervical or supraclavicular bruits.
Such patients must be examined for:
Once a significant blood pressure difference is found, the next step should involve diagnostic imaging.
Duplex ultrasound with colour flow is the non-invasive modality of choice.
Treatment options include: