[Indication and operative technique in chronic occlusions of the innominate artery and proximal subclavian artery (author's transl)].

Surgery is indicated in clinical stage II and cases of subclavian steal syndrome. Endarterectomy by mid-sternotomy is the operation of choice for obliteration of the innominate artery. The lethality rate is 6%. Occlusion of the left proximal subclavian artery can be treated by transthoracic endarterectomy or extrathoracic bypass procedure. The bypass procedure is preferred because of low operative lethality rate (0.8% versus 7% in transthoracic procedure). Occlusions of the right proximal subclavian artery are treated by supraclavicular endarterectomy.