[Refractory angina caused by subclavian-coronary steal syndrome treated with angioplasty and stent]

The coronary-subclavian steal syndrome is a rare cause of recurrent myocardial ischemia in patients who have undergone left internal mammary-coronary artery bypass grafting. A significant left subclavian artery stenosis proximal to its origin, can result in an impaired or reversed flow in this graft and myocardial ischemia. We describe the case of a woman aged 76 who had undergone myocardial revascularization seven months before, and presented refractory angina with severe electrocardiographic ischemia in the left anterior descending artery territory. Arteriography confirmed this syndrome and the patient was successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and placement of two stents in the left subclavian artery. We review the clinical management, diagnostic methods and therapeutic options used in the subclavian-coronary steal syndrome.