[Complications of surgery of the thoraco-cervico-brachial outlets]

Surgery of the thoraco-cervico-brachial outlet can be associated with a number of serious complications. This study is divided into two parts: the description of 2 cases of recurrent arterial thrombosis following operations performed in other centres, an analysis of the results of a series of 70 operations associated with transient neurological sequelae, one respiratory complication secondary to a haemothorax and 9% of cases with moderate or poor results, some of which were due to errors in indications or to incomplete excision. The literature shows that 5 types of complication can be observed: arterial, neurological, complications of the surgical approach, failures due to incomplete procedures, arterial or nervous recurrences. For these reasons, the patients submitted to these operations should be very carefully selected. This type of surgery should not be presented to patients as being free of risks and always effective. The operator should be very careful before and during the operation. If complications occur, they should be treated early and completely.