SUBCLAVIAN STEAL SYNDROME.

Atherosclerotic occlusive lesions involving the great vessels of the aortic arch, to be distinguished from the poorly defined panarteritis (polyarteritis) as described by Takayusu 1 in 1908, have been amenable to surgical correction for the past decade. Because of their usual segmental nature and convenient extracranial locations, thromboendarterectomy and reconstructive procedures have provided satisfactory results in the majority of instances. 2,3 Recently it has been shown that a cerebrovascular deficit (in reality a functional basilar artery insufficiency) can exist with isolated atherosclerotic obliteration of the subclavian artery. This paradox of priority has been aptly termed the "subclavian steal" syndrome. 4,5 To date, five detailed cases have been described in the literature. 4,6,7 It is the purpose of this paper to report an additional two; to our knowledge the first attributed to isolated embolization of the subclavian artery. Report of Cases Case 1. —A 48-year-old ex-banjo-player and carpenter was admitted April