Management of proximal axillary and subclavian artery injuries

Abstract

Approximately 25 per cent of subclavian artery injuries caused minimal initial symptoms but delayed complications prompted attendance for medical attention. The majority of patients who survived subclavian artery injury and attended for medical attention were haemodynamically stable on admission; selective arteriography provided valuable information in these patients. Supraclavicular and infraclavicular incisions avoided clavicular division and reduced the postoperative morbidity associated with distal subclavian artery injuries.