[The involvement of the brachial plexus in cardiac surgery with median sternotomy for the revascularization of the myocardium: clinical evaluation].
To evaluate the involvement of brachial plexus in cardiac surgery with median sternotomy for the revascularization of the myocardium 113 patients (87 men and 26 women) were clinically examined in the preoperative and between the fifth and eight post-operative days. The internal thoracic artery was used in 65 of the 113 patients. The electroneuromyography was not effected in any of the patients. A lesion of the brachial plexus was found in three patients though the internal thoracic artery was used in only one patient. We believe that factors such as posture of the patient, hypothermia, thoracic braces and use of the internal thoracic artery are relevant in the lesions. Hence one must be attentive to all the factors mentioned above so as to avoid or minimize the lesions.
Atra
M
M
Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), Brasil.
Gabbai
A A
AA
D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*