title: Brachial plexopathy in laparoscopic-assisted rectal surgery: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brachial plexopathy may be caused by malpositioning during surgery when the body's protective mechanism is lost under general anaesthesia. It is the second commonest nerve injury reported in the anaesthetized patient. The exact incidence in colorectal surgery is unclear but there have been numerous cases reported of brachial plexopathy as an adverse event following colorectal surgery. Although it is widely believed that these injuries are preventable by paying special attention to vulnerable areas during patient positioning and by careful intraoperative monitoring, it appears that nerve injury may still occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with post-operative brachial plexopathy in our prospectively kept database were identified. The patient notes were reviewed and documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our series, five cases of brachial plexopathy were still observed despite careful precautions taken to prevent nerve injury. The proposed mechanism of nerve injury in our series is most likely due to nerve stretch. All symptoms resolved with the longest taking 7 months before resolution. During this period from 2005 to 2010 our unit performed 548 laparoscopic colorectal resections. The relative incidence of brachial plexopathy in our series is approximately 1 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend certain precautionary steps to follow, as well as predisposing and perioperative factors to be aware of when anticipating a laparoscopic colorectal procedure. These may all contribute to minimising brachial plexopathy which most likely is under-reported in laparoscopic colorectal surgery but is a preventable morbidity to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia. jimmyeteuati@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eteuati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiscock
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hastie
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D056888:Patient Positioning; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery