Correlation analysis of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by subclavian steal syndrome and degree or type of steal phenomena

Objective To explore the relationship between vertebrobasilar insufficiencies caused by subclavian steal syndrome and degree or type of steal phenomena.Methods 80 patients who were diagnosed subclavian steal syndrome by transcranial doppler ultrasound were analyzed retrospectively,24 cases in them were received digital subtraction angiography.The degree of steal phenomena were determined by direction of blood flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery,and the type of steal phenomena were determined by whether basilar artery involved in steal phenomena.Finally,we made the correlation analysis between vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by subclavian steal syndrome and degree or type of steal phenomena.Results There was a significant relationship between the severity of subclavian artery stenosis and degree of VA steal in 24 patients performed with both TCD and DSA(t =15.59,P ＜0.05).There was no significant relationship between the vertebrobasilar insufficiency and severity of steal phenomena (P ＞0.05).There were 21cases(77.8％) exist vertebrobasilar insufficiency in the patients whose basilar artery were involved in steal phenomena,and there were 18 cases(33.9％) exist ertebrobasilar insufficiency in the patients whose basilar artery were not involved in steal phenomena.There was a significant differences between the two type of steal phenomena(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by subclavian steal syndrome doesn't associate with the degree of steal phenomena,and associates with the type of steal phenomena.Paying close attention to whether basilar arteries are involved in steal phenomena is useful for analyzing the patient 's condition and guide clinical treatment. Key words: Subclavian steal syndrome;  Vertebrobasilar insufficiency;  Transcranial Doppler;  Digital subtraction angiography