The Role of Duplex Sonography in Right Subclavian Double Steal Syndrome

Abstract

The occurrence of subclavian steal syndrome is possible in patients with either severe stenosis or occlusion in the left proximal subclavian or brachiocephalic arteries. Limited and insufficient blood flow in the vessel with a lesion induces blood supply from the opposite side via any of the connected vessels, which is called a subclavian steal phenomenon. The duplex sonography is useful for detecting this phenomenon. Some patients who experience this phenomenon complain of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, such as headache or numbness and weakness in the arm, and so on. Subclavian steal syndrome means subclavian steal phenomenon accompanied by these symptoms. We present a patient with focal severe stenosis of the brachiocephalic artery, manifested as blood flow reversal in the vertebral, and a “to-and-fro” waveform pattern in the external carotid, internal carotid, and common carotid arteries.