Subclavian artery false aneurysm associated with brachial plexus palsy: a complication of parenteral drug addiction.
A 35-year-old female drug addict developed a painful left supraclavicular swelling and profound left arm weakness associated with left hand paresthesia and swelling after cocaine injection into the left base of her neck. Arteriogram confirmed a 3.7-cm false aneurysm of the left subclavian artery and a filling defect of the proximal left axillary artery. Emergent intraoperative treatment consisted of false aneurysm resection, embolectomy, and placement of a prosthetic graft. Distal circulation was restored, but the neurological deficit persisted in the left arm and a fever developed in the patient, necessitating rehospitalization 3 weeks after discharge. False aneurysm, a vascular complication of parenteral drug abuse, may lead precipitously to death by exsanguination if not efficiently and effectively diagnosed and treated.
Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals, IL.
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O'Leary
D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001366:Axillary Artery; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D003042:Cocaine; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010243:Paralysis; D011859:Radiography; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
D003042:Cocaine