[Surgical treatment of subclavian steal syndrome and innominate steal syndrome. Long-term results].

Thirty-four patients who underwent carotid-subclavian bypass (64.7%), aorto-carotid bypass (17.6%), endarterectomy of subclavian artery (5.8%) or endarterectomy of innominate artery for "subclavian" or "innominate steal" syndromes, had a follow-up studies 3-8 years since surgery. All patients demonstrated originally a differential in systolic blood pressure in the upper extremities. The surgical indications were posed on the basis of neurologic symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency and the angiographic evidence of "subclavian (79.4%)" or "innominate (20.6%) steal". The carotid-subclavian bypass has been the preferred surgical treatment technique in patients with "subclavian steal". This operation is indicated also in nearby asymptomatic patients in order to prevent the evolution of the natural history of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Longterm results are considered satisfactory in surgically treated patients.