Peripheral nerve injury as a complication of axillary arteriography

Five patients with peripheral nerve injury after axillary arteriography are presented. The clinical and electromyographic pictures of this complication are described. In 4 patients the brachial plexus was damaged due to haematoma or pseudoaneurysm-formation at the site of the arterial puncture. The grave prognosis for this complication is illustrated on the basis of the literature and our cases. Since it is concluded that the prognosis is better if rapid surgical correction of the complication is performed, certain steps to prevent the disabling outcome are proposed.