Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for treatment of subclavian steal.

Twenty-two patients with subclavian steal were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Fifteen had unilateral stenosis of the subclavian artery, one had severe stenosis on the left and total occlusion on the right, five had total subclavian occlusion on the left, and one had total occlusion of the innominate artery. All subclavian stenoses as well as the occluded innominate artery were successfully dilated, resulting in correction of subclavian steal; however, attempts to recanalize the totally occluded subclavian arteries failed. No restenosis of successfully treated arteries was observed during 5 years of follow-up. The authors recommend PTA as the treatment of choice for subclavian steal due to severe stenosis; however, total occlusion requires bypass surgery.