title: Median nerve damage from brachial artery puncture: a case report.
abstract: This report describes a case in which puncture of the brachial artery to obtain a sample for blood-gas analysis resulted in damage to the median nerve with a persisting neuropathy and apparent loss of function. Errors in judgment and contributions to possible negligence included (1) inappropriate choice of sampling site; (2) lack of knowledge of precautions and possible complications; (3) incomplete/inadequate description of optimal procedure in departmental procedure manual; (4) arbitrary selection of the dominant hand.
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Sciences Department, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System