[Diagnosis of lesions of the brachiocephalic artery by ultrasound dopplerography before and after roentgeno-endovascular dilatation].

The technique and methodology of diagnosis of brachicephalic arterial lesions by means of ultrasonic dopplerography before and after roentgeno-endovascular dilatation are described. Angiographic and ultrasonic studies were conducted in 21 patients who were eventually subjected to roentgeno-endovascular dilatation (RED) of stenosed and occluded segments of aortic arch branches (atherosclerosis in 19 cases, and nonspecific aorto-arteritis in 2). The stenosis was located in the brachiocephalic trunk in 1 case, in the right internal carotid artery in another one and in the subclavian arteries in the rest: stenosis of the right subclavian artery in 4 patients and first-portion left-subclavian artery in 11, and occlusion of first-segment left subclavian artery in 4. The diagnostic capacity of ultrasonic dopplerography was 94% in detecting brachiocephalic arterial stenosis of 50% and more, while angiographic investigation was more reliable in detecting subclavian occlusions (4 cases). A few clinical examples of the diagnoses of lesions in aortic arch branches and treatment thereof by transcutaneous roentgeno-endovascular dilatation are quoted.