OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical symptoms in patients with subclavian-vertebral artery steal syndrome before and after surgical correction using the original Stealscore scale (pilot study).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 33 patients with complete subclavian-vertebral artery steal syndrome due to occlusion or stenosis of subclavian arteries. Patients with grade 3 cerebral ischemia (dyscirculatory encephalopathy) and grade 2 upper limb ischemia (arm pain during physical exertion) predominated.

RESULTS

Clinical symptoms were assessed before and after surgical treatment in all patients. Open surgical correction was performed in 13 patients (carotid-subclavian bypass), endovascular treatment — in 20 patients (subclavian artery stenting). Symptoms were assessed using the MOSSF-36 questionnaire and Stealscore scale.

CONCLUSION

The developed Stealscore scale allows to assess severity of clinical symptoms in patients with subclavian-vertebral artery steal syndrome, to determine postoperative treatment and the need for repeated intervention. Surgical correction of steal syndrome leads to regression of symptoms and QoL improvement. QoL is higher after endovascular correction compared to open reconstructive surgery.