Joint Study of extracranial arterial occlusion. VII. Subclavian steal--a review of 168 cases

Among 6,534 patients admitted to the study, 17% showed evidence of subclavian or innominate arterial occlusion or stenosis of 30% or more. Only 168 fulfilled the criteria of "subclavian steal" and more than 80% of these had associated lesions of other extracranial vessels. Differences were noted in operative mortality for various surgical procedures, and complications were higher when the thorax was opened. Mortality and morbidity from stroke were exceedingly high in the surgical group. No significant differences in survival were noted between the medically and surgically treated groups. Patients with subclavian artery disease only did not have strokes during the follow-up period whether they were treated medically, surgically, or not at all.