İzmir Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Kliniği, İZMİR

Lesions of the subclavian artery requiring arterial reconstruction are relatively uncommon but they are encountered more frequently than lesions of the innominate arter or commo n carotid artery. These lesions may give rise to ischemia of either the upper extremity or the cerebral circulation. Three cases admitted to our clinic for syncope, left upper extremity claudication and exercise-induced vertigo. In physical examination, upper extremity brachial systolic blood pressure diffe rence was detected. Aortic arch angiography demonstrated left subclavian artery occlusion in two cases, 90% stenozis in one case. Color doppler ultrasonography demonstrated retrograde flow in left vertebral artery. All patients were treated surgically. Subclavian-subclavian bypass was performed in two cases and carotid-subclavian bypass was performed in one case with polytetraflourethylene graft. Postoperatively symptomatic improvement paralleled on increase in brachial systolic arterial blood pressure readings. No coplications observed in postoperative period.