Effort-induced venous thrombosis of the upper limbs.
OBJECTIVE
To report 3 patients who presented with effort-induced thrombosis of the upper limbs.
The 1st patient presented with a 2-week history of fever, shortness of breath, and increasing swelling of the neck after strenuous manual work. The 2nd patient presented with a 2-day history of pain, swelling, and discolouration of the right upper limb following a session of intense weight lifting. The 3rd patient presented with a 2-day history of swelling, pain, and discolouration of the left upper limb due to repeated rotatory movements of the arm at work. In all 3 cases, the diagnosis of effort-induced thrombosis of subclavian and axillary veins was made. In the 1st case, the lesion was bilateral and complicated by superior vena cava obstruction. In the 2nd and in the 3rd case, right and left subclavian veins were thrombosed, respectively. After consulting the vascular team, anticoagulation therapy was initiated in all 3 cases. The patients described showed gradual recovery with eventual recanalization of the thrombosed veins on follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases indicate the need to consider thrombosis of the subclavian vein as a part of the differential diagnosis in a patient with a history of strenuous manual work. Therapeutic options include immediate anticoagulation or thrombolysis, while vascular surgery should remain an option for cases with underlying anatomical anomalies.
Youssef
M Y Z
MY
Department of Medicine, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait.
Al Taweel
T
T
Asfar
S
S
Abdella
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001367:Axillary Vein; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin