Subclavian steal: a review.
Subclavian steal syndrome is siphoning of blood from the baseovertebral circulation through a reversed flow in a vertebral artery caused by a proximal obstruction, most often an atherosclerotoic lesion, in the subclavian artery. Many patients are asymptomatic; many more probably have undiagnosed disease. Evidence of a possible steal can be detected by unequal upper-extremity pressures and decreased unilateral arm pulse. When symptoms do exist, they may be cerebral, cerebral and brachial, or brachial only. Treatment of choice is a symptomatic patient with confirmed diagnosis by angiography is surgical revascularization. Patient education plays a significant role in reduction of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis and recognition of progression of the disease. Complete vascular workup is warranted from any patient with atherosclerosis.
D001794:Blood Pressure; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D013349:Subclavian Steal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy