Surgical techniques: Approach to the axillosubclavian artery

Abstract

Exposure of the axillosubclavian artery can be challenging due to the surrounding bony structures, bulky pectoralis muscles, and adjacent nerves. A thorough understanding of the thoracic outlet anatomy facilitates surgical exposure of both the subclavian and axillary arteries. However, given the complex anatomy within a confined surgical field, even to an expert exposure of these vessels is certainly not without risk. This chapter will serve as a review of both the supraclavicular and infraclavicular approaches to the axillosubclavian artery.