Subclavian Steal Syndrome with Otologic Findings

Özet

Subclavian "steal" syndrome is a condition that causes re-verse flow and changes in the flow pattern from the vertebral artery to the subclavian artery on the same side as a result of severe stenosis or ob-struction in the proximal section of the subclavian artery before deliv-ery to the vertebral artery. Subclavian steal syndrome is mostly asymptomatic due to collaterals to the head, neck and shoulders, but as a result of subclavian steal syndrome, neurotological symptoms can sometimes be seen due to vertebrobasias insufficiency as the verte-brobasilar arterial system feeds the peripheral, central auditory and vestibular systems. We found it appropriate to present a patient com-plained of tinnitus and hearing loss in the right ear, and we detected sub-clavian steal syndrome during the differential diagnosis we made based on these complaints. For this reason, patients with dizziness, hearing loss, or tinnitus should undergo a careful neurotological examination, and consideration given to a finding of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to subclavian steal syndrome, although this is rarely seen.