title: Bilateral brachial plexopathy following laparoscopic bariatric surgery.
abstract: This report describes a case of postoperative bilateral brachial plexopathy following laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The patient, a 39-year-old morbidly obese man, developed motor and sensory deficit, loss of reflexes, and pain in both arms postoperatively. Slow, but complete recovery occurred over nine months. We postulate that the head-up position in obese patients, without specific arm support, is a risk factor for brachial plexus injury.
authors.affiliation: North Shore Hospital, Waitemata Health, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K E J
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Brunette
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / Q000009:adverse effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004576:Electromyography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome