Complicated Arm Ischemia After Pregnancy

Abstract

A 33 year old female presented with acute ischemia of the right arm 2 weeks after an uneventful Caesarean section. Computed tomography (CT) showed embolic occlusion of the brachial artery, caused by a thrombus in a lusorian artery 2 cm distal to the aortic arch. She had no history of dysphagia or recurrent nerve palsy. Open embolectomy of the brachial artery was performed with vein patch plasty, with aspiration thrombectomy of the thrombus in the lusorian artery to avoid embolisation of the vertebral artery. Secondary antiphospholipid syndrome was diagnosed as the cause of thrombus formation and oral anticoagulation was initiated.