Suction thrombectomy of thrombotic occlusion of the subclavian artery in a case of Takayasu's arteritis.

Takayasu's arteritis, also known as pulseless disease, is a chronic inflammatory arteritis affecting large vessels, predominantly the aorta and its main branches. Vessel inflammation leads to wall thickening, fibrosis, stenosis, and thrombus formation. Percutaneous removal of arterial thrombus with the use of several devices has been reported, with mixed results. We present a case of Takayasu's arteritis with thrombotic occlusion of the subclavian artery in which pulsed urokinase injection and suction thrombectomy were used to revascularize a threatened limb and to establish the sole arterial supply to the brain.