Methods: Eight patients (6 males, 2 females; median age 58 years; range 38 to 73 years) who were operated due to true aneurysms of the subclavian and axillary arteries between February 1998 and December 2007 were examined retrospectively in terms of clinical and preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative parameters.

Results: Six patients had axillary and two patients had subclavian artery aneurysms. Complaints on admission were ischemic symptoms in two patients (25%), asymptomatic mass in three (38%), feeling of compression in two (25%), and bleeding in one (12%). The etiological factor was atherosclerosis in five patients (62%), a probable connective tissue disorder in one (13%), and idiopathic in two (25%) patients. Median follow-up was 106 months (range, 64 to 170 months). No operative mortality was seen. One patient developed pseudoaneurysm on 40th postoperative day. Secondary graft patency rate was 100% during follow-up.

Conclusion: True aneurysms of the subclavian and axillary arteries are rarely seen. These pathologies present with different etiological causes and symptoms. Following the diagnosis, treatment can be achieved by surgery successfully.