Percutaneous transluminal laser guide wire recanalization of chronic subclavian artery occlusion in symptomatic coronary-subclavian steal syndrome

Treatment of subclavian artery stenosis by percutaneous balloon angioplasty and adjunctive stent placement was shown to be safe and efficacious, but it may be limited in tight stenoses and long occlusions. We describe the case of a patient who experienced progressive angina pectoris associated with signs of cerebrovertebral insufficiency 9 yr after bypass surgery, including left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafting to the left anterior descending coronary artery. Angiography showed reversed flow through the LIMA graft into the subclavian artery and a 4-cm occlusion beginning at the origin of the left subclavian artery, representing a rare coronary-subclavian steal syndrome. After a conventional approach failed, recanalization was performed successfully using aser guide wire angioplasty with adjunctive stent placement in a combined radial and femoral approach. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.