Diagnosis of true aneurysms of subclavian and axillary arteries and our principles of surgical approach

Results All the patients underwent selective peripheral arteriography, colored Doppler ultrasound and contrasted thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT). All the patients were operated on under general anesthesia. Subclavicular approach was preferred except for the case operated on for pseudoaneurysm repair. In this particular case, supraclavicular approach was used for the 1st operation and supraclavicular incision plus a partial median sternotomy for the 2nd. Generally, if the calibration of the saphenous vein graft was appropriate for the arterial segment, this venous graft was used. Otherwise, an artificial graft was interposed. If acute ischemia was coexistent, brachial embolectomy was also performed.