A case of coronary-subclavian steal in patient with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid-subclavian bypass

Abstract

Introduction: A coronary-subclavian steal phenomenon was described in patients who have undergone prior bypass surgery using the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). Case report description: A 74-year-old male with a prior 3-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 2005 was admitted to the hospital with the deteriorating condition over the last four months. He had complaints of exertional chest pain which was usually gone upon taking nitroglycerin. He had a history of carotid-subclavian bypass in 1995. His prior CABG included LIMA graft to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the obtuse marginal (OM), and SVG to posterior descending artery (PDA). On admission, right arm blood pressure (BP) was 130/80 mm Hg, left arm BP was 80/60 mm Hg. Initial echocardiogram showed left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction of 53%. Stress-echocardiography was positive and demonstrated wall motion abnormalities in septal, antero-septal and anterior segments of LV. Duplex ultrasound revealed bilateral carotid stenosis of 55%, left subclavian artery subocclusion and stenosis of carotid-subclavian graft with maximal linear flow velocity up to 3.5 m/sec. Nevertheless both vertebral arteries had antegrade flow. Using cardiac catheterization severe 3-vessel coronary artery disease was diagnosed but PDA and OM SVG grafts and LIMA graft were patent. Angiography showed a severe stenosis of 95% of proximal left subclavian artery, stenosis of 59% of carotid-subclavian graft. LIMA graft had retrograde flow to the left subclavian artery and the first segment of left vertebral artery. The patient underwent PTA and stent placement of the left subclavian artery. During one-year follow-up period, he was symptom free, ultrasound showed normal flow in left subclavian artery, and regional wall motion of LV appeared to be normal. Discussion: Clinical manifestation of a coronary-subclavian steal in this patient was unusual with the severe angina but without any symptoms of cerebral ischemia probably due to partly functioning carotid-subclavian graft. Percutaneous revascularization of the subclavian artery was the reasonable treatment option. That lesion was more significant than stenosis of carotid-subclavian graft, more favorable for PTA due to minimal calcification and relatively short stenosis. Conclusions: Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome is a diagnosis that should not be overlooked, especially in patients with known peripheral atherosclerosis. Percutaneous interventions due to their efficacy and low complication rates constitute the first choice treatment in patients with high surgical risk.