HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hanson, M. R. Articles by Estafanous, F. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hanson, M. R. Articles by Estafanous, F. G.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 36, 675-679, Copyright © 1983 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Mechanism and frequency of brachial plexus injury in open-heart surgery: a prospective analysis

MR Hanson, AC Breuer, AJ Furlan, RJ Lederman, AJ Wilbourn, DM Cosgrove, FD Loop and FG Estafanous

A computer-assisted prospective analysis of 531 patients undergoing open-heart operations revealed that 26 patients (5%) sustained brachial plexus injury. In 22 of the 26 patients (85%), the lesion involved the lower trunk or C8-T1 nerve roots. Electromyograms confirmed the clinical impression in 13 patients. In 19 of the 26 patients (73%), the side on which the plexus lesion was found correlated with the side of internal jugular vein cannulation. Because of the anatomical proximity of the lower trunk to the internal jugular vein and the preponderance of lower trunk lesions, we postulate that traumatic cannulation may be a major mechanism of plexus injury. Thus, the resulting syndrome of pain, dysesthesias, and hand weakness may sometimes be preventable.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Unlu, Y. Velioglu, H. Kocak, N. Becit, and M. Ceviz Brachial plexus injury following median sternotomy Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, April 1, 2007; 6(2): 235 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. P. Grocott, J. A. Clark, H. M. Homi, and A. Sharma "Other" Neurologic Complications After Cardiac Surgery Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, September 1, 2004; 8(3): 213 - 226. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. D. Sharma, C. L. Parmley, G. Sreeram, and H. P. Grocott Peripheral Nerve Injuries During Cardiac Surgery: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Prevention Anesth. Analg., December 1, 2000; 91(6): 1358 - 1369. [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Gulielmos, M. Dangel, N. Solowjowa, F. M. Wagner, P. Karbalai, V. Schmidt, and S. Schueler Clinical experiences with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery using a simplified port accessTM technique Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., August 1, 1999; 14(2): 141 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. S. Jellish, B. Blakeman, P. Warf, and S. Slogoff Somatosensory Evoked Potential Monitoring Used to Compare the Effect of Three Asymmetric Sternal Retractors on Brachial Plexus Function Anesth. Analg., February 1, 1999; 88(2): 292 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Gulielmos, J. Wunderlich, M. Dangel, F. M Wagner, P. Karbalai, H. Reichenspurner, S. M Tugtekin, and S. Schueler Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery - clinical experiences with a PortAccess system Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., October 1, 1998; 14(suppl_1): S148 - S153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Gulielmos, M. Knaut, F. M. Wagner, and S. Schuler Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique for the Treatment of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 1998; 65(5): 1331 - 1334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J Shaw The incidence and nature of neurological morbidity following cardiac surgery: a review Perfusion, April 1, 1989; 4(2): 83 - 91. [PDF]