[Angioplasty of the subclavian artery. The technic, early and late results].

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in 22 patients (13 women and nine men; mean age 57 years [44-74] ) with symptomatic obstruction of the subclavian artery which was due to arteriosclerotic stenosis in 14, occlusion in six patients, radiogenic multiple stenoses in one (after radiotherapy for breast cancer), and stenoses of the left and right subclavian artery in one patient with Takayasu's arteritis. Primary success occurred in 21 (91%). The only complication was a stenosis of the brachial artery after combined brachiofemoral recanalization of a subclavian artery occlusion, but it did not require treatment. No emboli were noted. A good long-term result was achieved in 19 of the 21 primarily successful PTAs, in two instances after repeat PTA. PTA has thus been shown to be a simple, well tolerated interventional treatment of symptomatic subclavian obstruction with a high success rate and low risk of complications. It is to be preferred as a primary procedure to surgical intervention.