Biomaterial Database

Brachial plexus neuropathy following attempt at subclavian vein catheterization. Case report. 1996

T L Trentman, and J D Rome, and J M Messick

Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.

OBJECTIVE The subclavian vein is often used for placement of central venous catheters, and the possibility exists of nerve injury as a complication of the procedure. METHODS A 58-year-old woman undergoing subclavian central catheter placement sustained a brachial plexus injury. A review of the English-language literature revealed no reports of brachial plexus injury during placement of a subclavian central catheter, although three reports were found in the non-English-language literature. RESULTS The anatomic relationship of the subclavian artery, vein, and brachial plexus at the supraclavicular triangle is described, and suggestions are given as to how to avoid this problem. CONCLUSIONS Brachial plexus injury can occur with placement of subclavian central catheters, but proper technique should minimize this complication.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010523	Peripheral Nervous System Diseases	Diseases of the peripheral nerves external to the brain and spinal cord, which includes diseases of the nerve roots, ganglia, plexi, autonomic nerves, sensory nerves, and motor nerves.	Peripheral Nerve Diseases,Peripheral Neuropathies,PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) Diseases,PNS Diseases,Peripheral Nervous System Disease,Peripheral Nervous System Disorders,Nerve Disease, Peripheral,Nerve Diseases, Peripheral,Neuropathy, Peripheral,PNS Disease,Peripheral Nerve Disease,Peripheral Neuropathy
D001917	Brachial Plexus	The large network of nerve fibers which distributes the innervation of the upper extremity. The brachial plexus extends from the neck into the axilla. In humans, the nerves of the plexus usually originate from the lower cervical and the first thoracic spinal cord segments (C5-C8 and T1), but variations are not uncommon.	Plexus, Brachial
D002405	Catheterization, Central Venous	Placement of an intravenous CATHETER in the subclavian, jugular, or other central vein.	Central Venous Catheterization,Venous Catheterization, Central,Catheterization, Central,Central Catheterization,Catheterizations, Central,Catheterizations, Central Venous,Central Catheterizations,Central Venous Catheterizations,Venous Catheterizations, Central
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013350	Subclavian Vein	The continuation of the axillary vein which follows the subclavian artery and then joins the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein.	Subclavian Veins,Vein, Subclavian,Veins, Subclavian