Subclavian artery false aneurysm associated with brachial plexus palsy: a complication of parenteral drug addiction.
Am J Emerg Med 1990;
8:129-33. [PMID:
2405865 DOI:
10.1016/0735-6757(90)90200-j]
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Abstract
A 35-year-old female drug addict developed a painful left supraclavicular swelling and profound left arm weakness associated with left hand paresthesia and swelling after cocaine injection into the left base of her neck. Arteriogram confirmed a 3.7-cm false aneurysm of the left subclavian artery and a filling defect of the proximal left axillary artery. Emergent intraoperative treatment consisted of false aneurysm resection, embolectomy, and placement of a prosthetic graft. Distal circulation was restored, but the neurological deficit persisted in the left arm and a fever developed in the patient, necessitating rehospitalization 3 weeks after discharge. False aneurysm, a vascular complication of parenteral drug abuse, may lead precipitously to death by exsanguination if not efficiently and effectively diagnosed and treated.
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