Use of a pressure-sensing wire to detect sequential pressure gradients for ipsilateral vertebral and subclavian artery stenoses.

Endoluminal stent placement is safe and effective in the treatment of symptomatic ostial stenoses of the vertebral artery (VA) and proximal subclavian artery (SCA). However, determining the relative importance of an individual lesion on angiography is difficult when VA and SCA stenoses are concurrent. Pressure-sensing wires help in determining the functional significance of coronary artery stenosis. We present a case of ipsilateral VA and SCA stenoses in which a pressure-sensing wire was used in making interventional decisions.