An unusual cause for median nerve palsy after brachial catheterization: Report of two cases

Abstract

Median nerve palsy is an uncommon complication of brachial artery catheterization. Compression from a pseudoaneurysm at the puncture site is rarely implicated as the cause for such median nerve dysfunction. Here, we report two patients who developed median nerve palsy secondary to compression from pseudoaneurysms after brachial catheterizations done for chronic lower limb ischemia. Both underwent operative repair of the culprit lesions. Despite months of aggressive physiotherapy, recovery of nerve function remains poor in both.

Keywords

• access-site complications
• brachial artery catheterization
• brachial pseudoaneurysm
• median nerve palsy