[Paget-Schroetter disease: clinical and therapeutic considerations]

A case of subclavian-axillary vein thrombosis prompted us to review the recent literature on the subject. Paget-Shroetter disease is an uncommon disease, which is still associated with high early and late morbidity rates and the prevention of which requires early diagnosis and treatment. The importance of trauma (in the form of physical strain) in determining the symptoms of the disease is universally accepted. We observed subclavian-axillary vein thrombosis in a young 22-year-old athlete who complained of unexpected onset of pain in the left armpit, spreading to the arm and to the shoulder on the same side, functional impotence of the upper arm and swelling of the hand and forearm, and engorgement of the vessels in the arm, shoulder and clavipectoral region, which in the course of time developed the characteristics of a collateral circulation. The patient underwent phlebography which documented lack of opacification of the axillo-subclavian axis and showed the presence of a collateral circulation with dilation of the vein of the shoulder and arm. We first attempted to dissolve the thrombus by locoregional infusion of urochinase and later started anticoagulative therapy with an intravenous infusion of heparin (10,000 IU/h after a bolus of 500 units). Because of the poor result of thrombolysis and anticoagulative therapy and the progressive worsening of the disease, the patient underwent surgery to restore the continuity of the venous axis. The surgical procedure was performed through a skin incision along the upper edge of the collar-bone. This was dissected and the two stumps were well separated to allow a clear view of the subclavian vein. Phlebotomy, thrombectomy and reconstruction of the venous axis with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient underwent phlebography again on postoperative day 8, which demonstrated complete patency of the subclavian vein, and was discharged on postoperative day 20 on oral anticoagulative therapy.