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Background: Aortic arch (AA) branching patterns vary among different mammalian species. Most previous studies have focused on dogs, whereas those on raccoon dogs remain unexplored. Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the AA branching pattern in raccoon dogs and compare their morphological features with those of other carnivores. Methods: We prepared silicone cast specimens from a total of 36 raccoon dog carcasses via retrograde injection through the abdominal aorta. The brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) branching patterns were classified based on the relationship between the left and right common carotid arteries. The subclavian artery (SB) branching pattern was examined based on the order of the four major branches: the vertebral artery (VT), costocervical trunk (CCT), superficial cervical artery (SC), and internal thoracic artery (IT). Results: In most cases (88.6%), the BCT branched off from the left common carotid artery and terminated in the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. In the remaining cases (11.4%), the BCT formed a bicarotid trunk. The SB exhibited various branching patterns, with 26 observed types. Based on the branching order of the four major branches, we identified the main branching pattern, in which the VT branched first (98.6%), the CCT branched second (81.9%), the SC branched third (62.5%), and the IT branched fourth (52.8%). Conclusions: The AA branching pattern in raccoon dogs exhibited various branching patterns with both similarities and differences compared to other carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major vascular traumas to the neck, upper limbs, and chest may arise from penetrating and/or blunt mechanisms, resulting in a range of clinical scenarios. Lesions to the carotid arteries may also lead to neurologic complications, such as stroke. The increasing use of invasive arterial access for diagnostic and/or interventional purposes has increased the rate of iatrogenic injuries, which usually occur in older and hospitalized patients. Bleeding control and restoration of perfusion represent the two main goals of treatment for vascular traumatic lesions. Open surgery still represents the gold standard for most lesions, although endovascular approaches have increasingly emerged as feasible and effective options, particularly for management of subclavian and aortic injuries. In addition to advanced imaging (including ultrasound, contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging, and arteriography) and life support measures, multidisciplinary care is required, particularly in the setting of concomitant injuries to the bones, soft tissues, or other vital organs. Modern vascular surgeons should be familiar with the whole armamentarium of open and endovascular techniques needed to manage major vascular traumas safely and promptly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noninvasive diagnostic imaging of subclavian artery (SCA) and internal thoracic artery (ITA) is crucial to the patients planning to use ITA for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The guidelines have not yet provided guidance on screening high-risk groups. The present study aimed to evaluate the contribution of ultrasonography in the assessment of SCA and ITA, especially for the patients referred for CABG who planned to use ITA graft. Patients diagnosed with multivessel coronary heart disease were enrolled and some of them planned CABG. Bilateral SCAs and ITAs were routinely evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) before operation. The luminal diameter and the peak systolic velocity of the proximal and distal parts of SCA and ITA were measured. Depending on the Doppler waveform, the lumen narrowing rate was calculated. The final analysis was carried out in 572 patients. Thirty-five patients had moderate (50%-69%), severe (70%-99%) stenosis or occlusion in the SCA (left-sided in 21 and right-sided in 14). One patient had severe proximal stenosis in left ITA and one patient had no flow in left ITA due to the occlusion in left SCA. One patient had anatomic variation of isolated right aortic arch with aberrant left SCA. All of those cases were confirmed with multidetector computed tomography angiography. CDUS could be used for the evaluation of SCA and ITA before CABG as part of presurgical vascular assessment and provide an import basis for the imaging diagnosis and surgical plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the aortic arch (AA) branching pattern in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). We performed arterial silicone casting of the AA of 18 Eurasian otters (8 males and 10 females). We analyzed the AA branching pattern at three levels: the AA, brachiocephalic trunk (BCT), and subclavian artery (SB), using different classification methods at each level. We introduced new criteria for classifying the SB branching pattern applicable for Eurasian otter and other carnivores based on the sequence of the four main branches: vertebral artery (VT), internal thoracic artery (IT), costocervical artery (CCT), and superficial cervical artery (SC). In all Eurasian otters, two major branches emerged directly from the AA, i.e., the BCT and left SB. The BCT branched off the left common carotid artery and terminated in the right common carotid artery and right SB in 17 of 18 Eurasian otters; the BCT formed a bicarotid artery in the remaining case. The SBs showed various branching patterns, with the main branching pattern involving branching to the VT and IT at the same position, followed by the CCT and SC. The SB branching pattern in the Eurasian otter differed from that in dogs in that the two first branching arteries were VT and IT, rather than VT and CCT. Here, we present the anatomical characteristics of the AA branching patterns in the Eurasian otter and new analysis methods applicable for comparative studies of other carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant subclavian arteries are a result of unusual involution of the branchial arches resulting in persistent arteries that can cause tracheal or esophageal compression. Many are incidental findings but may be associated with dysphagia (dysphagia lusus naturae, Latin for "jest of nature"), a long history of asthma treatment for wheezing, or more uncommonly, aneurysms or aortic dissection. There are 5 basic approaches for repair discussed herein, determined by which subclavian artery is involved and where the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta lie, as well as the size of the latter, classified as Groups A to E, in order of frequency. These include: A: Aberrant RSCA and left arch; B: Aberrant LSCA and right arch; C: Aberrant RSCA, no significant Kommerell's and descending aneurysm; D: Aberrant LSCA and right-sided arch but compression from a vascular ring; and E: Aberrant RSCA and extensive arch and descending aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: The therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) of post-irradiated stenosis of subclavian artery (PISSA) was not well clarified. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the technical safety and outcome of the patients of severe symptomatic PISSA accepted PTAS.Methods: Between 2000 and 2019, 16 cases with 17 lesions of symptomatic and medically refractory PISSA accepted PTAS were included. We evaluated their technical success, peri-procedural complications and diffusion-weight imaging (DWI) of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), results of symptom relief, and long-term stent patency.Results: The stenosis of the 17 stenotic lesions were 81.2 ± 11.1%. The most common symptom of the 16 patients was dizziness (14/16, 87.5%). All successfully accepted PTAS without neurological complication and had symptom relief after PTAS (17/17, 100%). Of the 12 patients accepted pre-procedural and early post-procedural MRI follow-up, 2 patients had an asymptomatic tiny acute embolic infarct in the territory of vertebrobasilar system. In a 51.9 ± 54.9 months follow-up, all patients had no severe restenosis and no recurrent vertebrobasilar ischemic symptoms.Conclusion: For patients with PISSA and medically refractory ischemic symptoms, PTAS can be an effective alternative management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aortic arch and vertebral artery anomalies are vascular variations that occur as a result of embryological developmental defects. Bicarotid trunk anomaly is a rare aortic arch anomaly and refers to a common single trunk origin of common carotid arteries. VA origin anomalies are mostly unilateral and the most common is the LVA originating from the aortic arch. Abnormal origin of the RVA from the RCCA is a rare vascular anomaly. In this case, we presented ARSA and bicarotid trunk anomaly with abnormal origin of the vertebral arteries. Case presentation: A 64-year-old male was admitted to our center with complaints of chronic headache and dizziness. In addition to ARSA and bicarotid trunk anomaly, RVA originating from RCCA and LVA originating from aortic arch were observed in CT angiography. The origin of LVA was between the bicarotid trunk and LSCA. Both VA were entering the transverse foramen at the level of the C6 vertebra. These anomalies were also revealed in detail by MR angiography of head/neck. Conclusion: Aortic arch anomalies are a group with different subtypes. Awareness of VA origin anomalies is important for planning surgical and endovascular interventional procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the common origin of the left external carotid artery (ECA) and the right CCA are rare anomalies of the cervical vascular system. We report here a case involving the coexistence of these vascular anomalies with an aberrant right subclavian artery, which is a common congenital anomaly in the aortic arch, and review the embryologic mechanism and clinical importance of this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptomatic incomplete vascular rings resulting from aberrant right subclavian arteries (ARSA) are usually repaired with a subclavian to carotid transposition via a right thoracotomy or median sternotomy approach. We describe the successful use and long-term outcomes of a less invasive approach via a right collar incision for ARSA repair in a pediatric case series. Between January 2020 and December 2022, four pediatric patients with symptomatic ARSAs underwent operative repair using a right collar incision on the pediatric general and thoracic surgery service at a quaternary pediatric medical center. Demographic information, clinical characteristics and intra-operative complications were obtained from retrospective review of the medical record. Structured telephone interviews using a survey tool adapted from the Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire and the PEDI-EAT 10 collected data on long-term symptomatic improvement. Two patients were male, and two were female. Age at time of operation ranged from 9 to 38 months. In all patients, the operative indication was dysphagia in the setting of an ARSA with no additional symptom etiology of symptoms identified. No patients required postoperative intensive care unit admission. Hospital length of stay was 2 days for all patients. There were no intra-operative complications. All patients experienced long-term symptomatic improvement following their operation with 100 % reporting symptomatic improvement and none reporting symptom recurrence. A right collar incision is a feasible and effective approach for subclavian to carotid transposition of ARSA in pediatric patients and should be considered for operative intervention of symptomatic aberrant right subclavian arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aortic dissection is a rare but severe complication of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) for stenosis of the subclavian artery (SA). This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the risk factors and outcomes of patients with severe stenosis of the SA who underwent PTAS complicated by aortic dissection. Methods: Between 1999 and 2018, 169 cases of severe symptomatic stenosis of the SA underwent PTAS at our institute. Of them, six cases complicated by aortic dissection were included in this study. We evaluated the demographic features, technical factors of PTAS, and clinical outcomes in these six patients. Results: Aortic dissection occurred in 5.3% (6/113) of all left SA stenting cases but in none of the right SA stenting cases. All patients had hypertension and a high severity of SA stenosis (85.0 ± 13.0%, 60%-95%). Five of the six patients received balloonexpandable stents (83.3%). All patients had spontaneous resolution of the aortic dissection with conservative treatment. In a 63.33 ± 33.07 (7-118) month follow-up, five of the six patients (83.3%) had long-term symptom relief and stent patency. Conclusion: Aortic dissection occurred in patients who underwent PTAS for severe stenosis of the left SA, mainly with balloonexpandable stents. We suggest using self-expandable stents and angioplasty with an undersized balloon during PTAS for severe stenosis of the left proximal SA to prevent aortic dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservative management of a Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBD) is optimal blood pressure management, cardiac rehabilitation, and progressive return to activities of daily living (ADL) while preventing advancing dissection and aortic dilation. Recent case reports indicate higher levels of activity may be safe; however, the exercise parameters for chronic TBD conditions span a broad range and the research is limited. The clinical presentation and outpatient cardiac and physical rehabilitation program for a 61-year-old male with a chronic TBD from his subclavian artery to common iliac arteries is presented. The exercise protocol was developed and based on the available literature for the management of chronic aortic diseases. Eighteen months after the patient's acute TBD event, he began an exercise protocol designed to address the sport specific functional deficits related to his recreational activities. The program incorporated a variety of exercises from resistance training to cardiovascular exercise and high interval training. The therapeutic goals included restoration of cardiac fitness and improvement of core stability and appendicular strength, ultimately aiming toward a potential to return to recreational sport involving short duration, high intensity activity. In conjunction with the appropriate anti-hypertensive medication treatment, understanding the concepts of aortic hemodynamics as they relate to exercise can serve as a guideline for clinicians in developing an individualized exercise program for their TBD patients. Moreover, these physical training programs may include particular exercise guidelines beyond general recommendations of light to moderate cardiovascular activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has required a reduction in nonemergency treatment for a variety of disorders. This report summarizes conclusions of an international multidisciplinary consensus group assembled to address evaluation and treatment of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), a group of conditions characterized by extrinsic compression of the neurovascular structures serving the upper extremity. The following recommendations were developed in relation to the three defined types of TOS (neurogenic, venous, and arterial) and three phases of pandemic response (preparatory, urgent with limited resources, and emergency with complete diversion of resources). • In-person evaluation and treatment for neurogenic TOS (interventional or surgical) are generally postponed during all pandemic phases, with telephone/telemedicine visits and at-home physical therapy exercises recommended when feasible. • Venous TOS presenting with acute upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (Paget-Schroetter syndrome) is managed primarily with anticoagulation, with percutaneous interventions for venous TOS (thrombolysis) considered in early phases (I and II) and surgical treatment delayed until pandemic conditions resolve. Catheter-based interventions may also be considered for selected patients with central subclavian vein obstruction and threatened hemodialysis access in all pandemic phases, with definitive surgical treatment postponed. • Evaluation and surgical treatment for arterial TOS should be reserved for limb-threatening situations, such as acute upper extremity ischemia or acute digital embolization, in all phases of pandemic response. In late pandemic phases, surgery should be restricted to thrombolysis or brachial artery thromboembolectomy, with more definitive treatment delayed until pandemic conditions resolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In birds, in contrast to mammals, two brachiocephalic trunks are the origin in the arch of aorta and give rise to the subclavian arteries and common carotid. The aim of this study was to investigate the vascular branching morphology of the aortic arch in Gallus Domesticus with the purpose of providing accurate data with regards to the arterial supply of these segments to researchers and clinicians. The biological material was represented by 10 adult chicken bodies with an average weight of 2 kg, females. After procurement of the biological material, the feathers, skin, muscles and sternum were removed for easy access to the heart. After left ventricular cannulation, epoxy resin mixed with red dye was injected. The body was immersed in 5% formaldehyde for 24 hours. Next, stratigraphic dissection was performed. Two brachiocephalic trunks branched continually from aortic arch caudoventral to the primary bronchi. The left subclavian artery gave rise to sternoclavicular, thoracic, axillary and intercostal and the same was observed to the right side. Due to this method we could observe the aortic arch of Gallus Domesticus being different from mammals in that the left and right brachiocephalic trunks are detached from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadvertent cannulation of the subclavian artery is a rare complication when choosing the subclavian vein as the site of central venous catheter insertion. Its management is based on patient factors and the site of arterial puncture. In this case report, inadvertent subclavian artery cannulation was successfully treated in an immunocompromised patient with coagulopathy by using a percutaneous vascular closure device after temporary balloon tamponade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Penetrating injuries to the subclavian artery are usually the result of stab wounds or gunshot wounds. • Endovascular stent graft repair of traumatic subclavian artery injuries is a feasible alternative to open surgical approach. • Several studies have reported that endovascular approach is associated with a decreased morbidity and mortality compared to open approach. Penetrating injuries to the subclavian artery are usually the result of gunshot wounds or stab wounds. While subclavian artery injuries are relatively uncommon, vascular injuries due to penetrating trauma are frequently encountered at Trauma Centers. Despite advances in modern medicine, these injuries are associated with a high mortality and can lead to devastating morbidity. We report a case of a 20-year-old male who presented after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his left upper and lower extremities. He underwent an emergent repair of a left axillo-subclavian artery injury via an endovascular approach using a covered self-expanding stent and was discharged after less than a week. Historically, open surgical repair was considered the gold standard in the management of subclavian artery injury. However, rapid technological developments and advances in vascular surgery offer alternative management approaches in traumatic vascular surgery. In a select subset of trauma patients with penetrating vascular injuries, a minimally invasive endovascular approach may be an option. Endovascular repairs are associated with shorter operative times, less blood loss, lower complications and also a reduced mortality rate. Endovascular stent graft prostheses offer a minimally invasive treatment modality in the management of traumatic penetrating subclavian artery injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Subclavian artery injuries are rare, highly fatal, and constitute less than 2% of all vascular injuries. • Surgical repair of these injuries can be technically challenging due to their anatomic location. • Therapeutic approaches include surgical repair, endovascular repair, or a hybrid approach depending on the severity of the injury and the patient's hemodynamic status. Subclavian artery injuries are rare and are associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The majority of patients with blunt trauma to the subclavian artery succumb to their injury before reaching a hospital. In-hospital mortality remains high. We report the case of a 30-year-old male who presented with complete traumatic subclavian artery avulsion after a motorcycle collision. He presented in hemorrhagic shock. Temporary hemostatic control was achieved with endovascular balloon occlusion followed by operative intervention. Prompt diagnosis and meticulous management including early transfusion, when indicated, are necessary to salvage both the patient's life and limb from such severe injuries. Intra-operative diagnosis of subclavian artery injury is most common due to the hemodynamic instability of most patients with such injuries; however, conventional angiography and computed tomography angiography are useful diagnostic modalities as well. Temporizing measures such as endovascular balloon occlusion to obtain vascular control may serve as a valuable adjunct to surgical repair. Repair of a subclavian artery injury is challenging for even the most experienced of surgeons. Endovascular techniques can be therapeutic or used as an adjunct to control bleeding ad allow an open repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tension hemothorax is a life threatening condition. • Emergency thoracotomy can be accomplished in a hybrid room. • Endovascular subclavian artery stenting is a good choice in an emergency setting. Tension hemothorax is a rare event, due to different causes: trauma, ruptured thoracic aorta aneurysms, or as a complication of central venous line placement due to inadvertent artery puncture or cannulation. Tension hemothorax leads to both hypovolemic and obstructive shock and can require emergency management. A 63 years old lady underwent a complicated surgical procedure for a postoperative small bowel obstruction after radical cystectomy. During the procedure, a central venous catheter was placed, under ultrasound guidance, in the right jugular vein but an unknown puncture of the right subclavian artery occurred. In the early phase of the postoperative course, a hypovolemic/obstructive shock developed because of a tension hemothorax. The patient underwent an emergency thoracotomy in the hybrid room, followed by an endovascular repair of the arterial laceration. A recurrent hemothorax developed a few hours later because of an endoleak that was treated successfully with a second endovascular approach and a balloon dilatation of the stent. tension hemothorax due to inadvertent subclavian artery laceration can be life-threatening and should be managed in a hybrid room with endovascular and surgical capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study examined and compared the branching pattern of the aortic arch (AA) and its major branches in the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) on Jeju Island (Jeju roe deer [JRD]) with those in the roe deer of the Korean peninsula (mainland roe deer [MRD]). Seven of the nine expected types was observed in the arterial silicone casts of 29 deer (10 males, 19 females). The JRD was identical to the MRD in that absence of the typical pattern; however, the main three pattern types differed between the two. This difference resulted from differences in the branching patterns of the right subclavian artery and costocervical trunk. In conclusion, the JRD has different type of AA from the MRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this paper was to provide recommendations for diagnosis and management in the setting of infection following open or endovascular reconstructions of the supra-aortic trunks. Methods A review of the Medline database was performed from 1997 to 2017 by a combined strategy of MeSh terms. Results The literature search identified 49 publications: 36 studies addressing prosthetic material infections and 13 studies addressing stent infections. A total of 140 cases of prosthetic material infections were reported, mostly involving carotid patches. Surgical treatment was mostly based on complete removal of the infected material followed by in situ arterial reconstruction (86 cases, 62.3%). Peri-operative complications included cranial nerve injury in 17 cases (12.5%), stroke in eight (6.7%), bleeding in four (2.9%), re-infection in five (3.6%), and cardiac failure in three cases (2.2%). Stent infections were reported in 12 patients: eight carotid stents, three subclavian stents and one tandem brachiocephalic subclavian stent. Treatment was not described for one case, was conservative in one case, consisted of stent removal with venous reconstruction in six cases, stent removal without reconstruction because of carotid thrombosis in two cases, and carotid embolisation in two cases. Complications included intra-operative death in one case (9.1%), stroke in two (18.2%), reinfection in one (9.1%), bleeding in one (9.1%), and cardiac failure in one case (9.1%). Conclusion Appropriate pre-operative imaging is mandatory and treatment modality should be determined by patient condition. Complete removal of the infected material, followed by in situ arterial reconstruction with venous material seems advisable, despite high morbidity. However, alternative strategies may be considered for fragile and high risk patients. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to ensure optimum results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previously treated neck is a serious problem if further free tissue transfer reconstruction is required. Vessel depletion is often a terrifying finding that creates the need for novel approaches to access vessels that lie outside the anatomical region of the head and neck. We present what is, to our knowledge, the first case of utilising the subclavian artery and vein in head and neck reconstruction. We describe the anatomical details and a step-by-step access approach, together with tips on how to perform safe and effective microvascular anastomoses. The quality of the subclavian vessels is excellent, and access to the area is straightforward provided it is carefully planned. The technique could be considered more often in the vessel-depleted neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/background Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is an emerging therapy for thoracic aortic pathologies. However, the role of left subclavian artery (LSA) revascularisation in patients with LSA coverage in TEVAR has not been established. A systematic review and meta-analysis was done to investigate the effect of LSA revascularisation in TEVAR when the LSA was covered. Methods PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched to find relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of RCTs and cohort studies respectively. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to express differences for dichotomous outcomes. Random effects models were used to combine outcomes for studies with I 2 > 50%; otherwise, fixed effects models were used. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to further validate the results. Results Sixteen cohort studies with a total of 2591 patients were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The average score of the included studies was 7.56. Of the included patients, the peri-operative stroke rate was 6.8% (n = 176/2591). The peri-operative stroke rates of the with and without LSA revascularisation groups were 5.4% and 7.8%, respectively. Compared with no LSA revascularisation, patients with LSA revascularisation had a significantly lower peri-operative stroke rate (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.45–0.82; I 2 = 20%) and peri-operative spinal cord ischaemia (SCI) rate (RR 0.59; 95% CI 0.39–0.90; I 2 = 0). No significant difference was found between the with and without LSA revascularisation groups with respect to peri-operative mortality (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.60–1.21; I 2 = 35%) and peri-operative paraplegia (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.45–1.44; I 2 = 17%). Conclusion The results of this review reveal that LSA revascularisation was associated with significantly lower peri-operative stroke and SCI rates. LSA revascularisation should be recommended for patients with LSA coverage in TEVAR. High quality RCTs are needed to further validate the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Most risk scores that use imaging methods to determine the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis assess the carotid and coronary arteries. The value of assessing subclavian arteries to improve the predictive capacity of traditional imaging studies is not known.Materials and Methods: We studied subjects without cardiac, cerebral, or peripheral vascular symptoms and normal carotid ultrasound. They had at least 1 traditional vascular risk factor. We assessed prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in the right subclavian artery.Results: We studied 625 subjects aged 54 ± 12. Most participants had 1 vascular risk factor. Using the Framingham Heart Study score, 62% were categorized as low risk, 29% intermediate risk, and 9% high risk. A total of 169 subjects (27%) had atheromatous plaques in the right subclavian artery. The prevalence of this finding was greater in women than in men (64% versus 36%, P < .00001) and was greater in subjects older than 54 years than in younger individuals (72% versus 28%, P < .00001). Plaques in the subclavian artery were present in 27% of subjects with high risk, 34% with intermediate risk, and 24% with low risk.Conclusions: Plaques in subclavian arteries are often detected in asymptomatic subjects with vascular risk factors and normal carotid arteries even with low vascular risk scores. Study of the subclavian arteries appears as a simple strategy for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis. Its role for improving cardiovascular risk scales and predicting coronary and cerebrovascular events needs to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral vascular trauma due to injuries of the upper and lower limbs are life-threatening, and their treatment require rapid diagnosis and highly-qualified surgical procedures. Experienced surgeons have recognized that subclavian arteries, affected by injuries of the upper limbs, require a more careful handling due to fragility than common iliac arteries, which are may be affected by injures of the lower limbs. We investigated these two artery types with comparable diameter to evaluate the differences in the biomechanical properties between subclavian and iliac arteries. Human subclavian and common iliac arteries of 14 donors either from the right or the left side (age: 63 yrs, SD: 19 , 9 female and 5 male) were investigated. Extension-inflation-torsion experiments at different axial strains (0–20%), transmural pressures (0–200 mmHg) and torsion ( ± 25 ° ) on preconditioned arterial tubes were performed. Residual stresses in both circumferential and axial direction were determined. Additionally, the microstructure of the tissues was determined via second-harmonic generation imaging and by histological investigations. At physiological conditions ( p i = 13.3  kPa, λ z = 1.1 ) common iliac arteries revealed higher Cauchy stresses in circumferential and axial directions but a more compliant response in the circumferential direction than subclavian arteries. Both arteries showed distinct stiffer behavior in circumferential than in axial direction. Circumferential stiffness of common iliac arteries at physiological conditions increased significantly with aging ( r = - 0 . 67 , p = 0 . 02 ). The median inversion stretches, where the axial force is basically independent of the transmural pressure, were determined to be 1.05 for subclavian arteries and 1.11 for common iliac arteries. Both arteries exhibited increased torsional stiffness, when either axial prestretch or inflation pressure was increased. Residual stresses in the circumferential direction were significantly lower for subclavian arteries than for common iliac arteries at measurements after 30 min ( p = 0.05 ) and 16 hrs ( p = 0.01 ). Investigations of the collagen microstructure revealed different collagen fiber orientations and dispersions in subclavian and iliac arteries. The difference in the collagen microstructure revealed further that the adventitia seems to contribute significantly to the passive mechanical response of the tested arteries at physiological loadings. Histological investigations indicated pronounced thickened intimal layers in subclavian and common iliac arteries, with a thickness comparable to the adventitial layer. In conclusion, we obtained biomechanical differences between subclavian and common iliac arteries, which possibly resulted from their different mechanical loadings/environments and respective in vivo movements caused by their anatomical locations. The biomechanical differences explored in this study are well reflected by the microstructure of the collagen and the histology of the investigated arteries, and the results can improve trauma patient care and endovascular implant design. Statement of Significance During surgical interventions surgeons experienced that subclavian arteries (SAs) supplying the upper extremities, appear more fragile and prone to damage during surgical repair than common iliac arteries (CIAs), supplying the lower extremities. To investigate this difference in a systematic way the aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of these two arteries from the same donors in terms of geometry, extension-inflation-torsion behavior, residual stresses, microstructure, and histology. In regard to cardiovascular medicine the material behavior of aged human arteries is of crucial interest. Moreover, the investigation of SA is important as it can help to improve surgical procedures at this challenging location. Over the long-term it might well be of value in the construction of artificial arteries for substituting native arteries. In addition, the analysis of mechanical stresses can improve design and material choice for endovascular implants to optimize long-term implant function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]