Brachiocephalic artery dilation by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was used to dilate stenotic lesions in 38 brachiocephalic arteries in 36 patient. Complete evaluation of the central nervous system blood supply is a prerequisite for the brachiocephalic PTA when cerebral symptoms are present. The femoral artery is the best vascular entry site; use of digital subtraction angiography equipment for arterial mapping is helpful. Balloon diameter should be the same as or slightly wider than the diameter of the normal artery adjacent to the stenotic segment. Spasm was successfully treated with intraarterial injection of nitroglycerin. The only drug therapy consistently used with PTA was aspirin. Complete dilation of the stenosis is the best prevention of thrombotic or embolic complications. In properly selected cases, proximal subclavian artery stenoses can be safely dilated, and the balloon can eventually be placed across the origin of the vertebral artery. Because of potential complications associated with brachiocephalic PTA, indications must be well established, and interventions should not be performed on marginal or asymptomatic stenoses.