title: Outcome of trans-axillary approach for surgical decompression of thoracic outlet: a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the trans-axillary surgical approach in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study is comprised of data acquired from January 1998 until Oct 2008. Case histories of all the patients were reviewed from the Medical Records Department of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute. Relevant information and follow-up of the patients was carried out by examining the relevant clinical notes available by telephone interviews and personal contact whenever possible. All data was compiled and analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a total of 139 patients. The female: male ratio was about 6:1. Pain was the most common presenting symptom followed by weakness and parasthesia. Nerve conduction velocity was abnormal in 111 patients. Twenty-eight patients had abnormal Doppler study of subclavian vessels. Preoperative symptoms persisted in 13 patients. Overall, 126 patients showed improvement in symptoms and no recurrence or persistence of symptoms on follow-up examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trans-axillary approach provides a good exposure and cosmesis in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. It should be considered as the gold standard in the management of thoracic outlet syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Mohd Riyaz
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lattoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Abdul Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Senior resident CVTS SKIMS Soura Srinagar 190010.
authors.forename: Mohd Lateef
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Mohd Akbar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Abdul Gani
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ahangar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Gh Nabi
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Lone
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Muzaffar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar Kashmir.
authors.forename: Reyaz Ahmad
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lone
keywords: Cervical rib; Pain; Trans-axillary