Incidence of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the incidence of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.


METHODS
Prospective.


METHODS
Veterans Affairs Medical Center and university-affiliated medical center.


METHODS
Adult patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery and documented use of an internal mammary artery.


METHODS
Bilateral simultaneous brachial blood pressures were determined noninvasively. The presumptive diagnosis of ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis and coronary-subclavian steal syndrome was made if the systolic blood pressure differential was >20 mmHg.


RESULTS
The presumptive diagnosis of ipsilateral subclavian artery stenosis based on a blood pressure differential was made in 6 of 86 (5%) patients screened. The diagnosis of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome was confirmed at cardiac catheterization by observing retrograde internal mammary artery flow in 3 patients or lack of internal mammary artery flow in 1 patient (3.4%). All 4 patients with angiographic confirmation had either angina or silent ischemia. Three patients had successful carotid subclavian bypass, and 1 patient refused surgery. Two patients had no evidence of myocardial ischemia and underwent their planned procedure without incident.


CONCLUSIONS
Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome occurs with relative frequency in noncardiac surgery patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery using internal mammary artery conduits. Bilateral blood pressure measurements should be routinely performed during the preoperative evaluation. A pressure differential >20 mmHg should suggest the possibility of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.
Lobato
E B
EB
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, PO Box 100254, Gainesville, FL 32610-0254, USA. lobato@anest2.anest.ufl.edu
Kern
K B
KB
Bauder-Heit
J
J
Hughes
L
L
Sulek
C A
CA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013349:Subclavian Steal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology