OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of endovascular therapy and artery bypass for subclavian artery occlusion disease and to explore a suitable therapeutic procedure.

METHODSThirty-nine patients with subclavian artery occlusive disease received endovascular therapy or arterial bypass from June 1997 to May 2004. Twenty-seven endovascular stenting were performed on 26 patients through the femoral artery (n = 14) or combined brachial artery (n = 12). Retrograde endovascular balloon angioplasty and stent placement were performed on 12 patients. Eight subclavian arteries were punctured with ultrasound localization. On account of unsuccessful stenting, 13 cases received arterial bypass. In addition, endovascular stenting were performed on 9 cases with carotid or vertebrarterial stenoses.

RESULTSThe blood pressure difference was less than 10 mm Hg between the treated and the healthy arms in all 39 patients. The ratio of healthy/diseased side of the mean blood pressure index increased from 0.62 +/- 0.11 preoperatively to 0.98 +/- 0.04 postoperatively (P < 0.01). The mean patency time for endovascular therapy and arterial bypass was (57.6 +/- 3.7) and (60.2 +/- 7.2) months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSBoth endovascular therapy and arterial bypass have good curative effect for subclavian artery occlusion. Endovascular therapy is the preferred treatment for subclavian artery occlusion with mini-trauma and safety.