Treatment of an iatrogenic subclavian artery dissection

Abstract

Subclavian artery dissection is a rare complication of cardiac catheterization. The usual reason for entering this vessel is to access the origin of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) when this has previously been used, or is being considered, as a bypass graft. We report an instance of such dissection occurring long after bypass surgery which had included a LIMA graft. Successful correction was achieved by angioplasty and stent placement, using a retrograde left brachial approach.