ABSTRACT
Occlusive disease of the brachiocephalic artery and subclavian arteries is often asymptomatic
because of the extensive collateral network of the upper limb arteries. However it is an
important cause of extracranial cerebrovascular disease and upper limb ischemia due to
occlusion or distal embolization (1). The commonest cause of occlusive disease is athero-
sclerosis, followed by Takayasu’s disease. Other causes of occlusive disease are shown in
Table 1. The pattern of disease and the age at presentation reflects the underlying etiology.
Endovascular methods of treatment are the same as those used in the lower limb arteries,
but anatomical differences direct the choices made during treatment and the risks related to
the procedure.
