Phrenic Nerve Block for Management of Post-Thoracic Outlet Decompression Cough: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract Introduction Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders arising from compressive forces on the neurovascular bundle in that region due to different etiologies. This study aims to present a case with an intractable cough as a complication of the surgery and its management. Case presentation A 41-year-old woman had a 15-year history of bilateral upper limb pain and numbness. The pain worsened over the last two months. Tests and imaging confirmed thoracic outlet syndrome. Physiotherapy had no effect. She underwent thoracic outlet decompression (TOD) under general anesthesia via a supraclavicular incision. Post-surgery, she developed uncontrollable cough that didn't respond to medication. Two days after the operation, a bupivacaine (5%) injection near the phrenic nerve resolved the cough. Literature review The literature review identified several cases of TOD complications, including right phrenic nerve paralysis resolving in 3-6 months, unilateral right diaphragm dysfunction, and lung herniation successfully treated with thoracoscopic reduction. These cases underscore the diverse presentations and outcomes of TOD complications, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and tailored management strategies. Conclusion A possible complication of surgical decompression for thoracic outlet syndrome is an intractable cough that can be relieved by the injection of local anesthesia into the area of the phrenic nerve. Introduction Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) encompasses a range of disorders that lead to the compression of the neurovascular bundle in the thoracic outlet [1,2]. It is commonly classified into three types: neurogenic TOS (nTOS), venous TOS (vTOS), and arterial TOS (aTOS) [3]. nTOS is the predominant type, representing more than 90% of the cases. TOS is more commonly seen in females and individuals who have poor muscle development, poor posture, or both. Determining the precise prevalence of TOS is challenging due to the non-specific nature of its symptoms. The estimated incidence of TOS ranges widely, with approximately 3 to 80 cases per 1000 people. TOS typically occurs in three distinct spaces: the scalene triangle, costoclavicular space, and subcoracoid space. This condition can arise due to congenital, acquired, or traumatic factors. Secondary causes include clavicular fracture and deficiency in the trapezius muscle, causing shoulder depression, further diminishing the thoracic outlet, and increasing pressure in the thoracic outlet [4]. After physical therapy as a conservative management, one of the management options for TOS is surgical decompression. The possible complications of such a procedure are numerous, including pneumothorax, hemothorax, chylothorax, bleeding, and nerve injuries such as brachial plexus, phrenic nerve, and thoracic nerve. Despite surgical intervention, the recurrence of symptoms, spanning from 15% to 30%, remains a notable consideration [5,6]. However, a severe cough has never been reported in the literature. This study aims to report and discuss a case of a severe, intractable cough that developed after nTOS decompression and was managed by injection of local anesthesia. The references have been inspected for reliability, and the report has been written according to the CaReL guidelines [7,8]. Case Presentation Patient information A 41-year-old female presented with bilateral upper limb pain and numbness for 15 years, more pronouncedly on the right side. The pain progressed in the last two months. Clinical findings The provocative tests for TOS (scalenus muscle tenderness, elevation arm stress test, and Elvey test) were positive. Diagnostic approach Electromyography and nerve conduction studies showed nTOS, while chest X-rays, and cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were unremarkable. Doppler ultrasound of the right upper limb showed arterial and venous compression, suggesting nTOS. Therapeutic intervention The patient was first advised to do physiotherapy before opting for more invasive interventions, but the patient’s symptoms did not improve after four weeks of physiotherapy. Consequently, the patient was prepared for thoracic outlet decompression (TOD). Under general anesthesia, in the supine position, through a 4-cm supraclavicular incision, anterior, middle, and posterior scalene muscles were resected. The first rib was isolated and resected. Neurolysis was done. The patient was extubated in the operating room. However, in the postoperative period, she developed a severe cough six hours after recovering from the anesthesia. The cough did not respond to the oral and intravenous medications. Two days after the operation, the patient was injected with 120 mg of bupivacaine (5%) into the area of the phrenic nerve in the supraclavicular region-site of the resected scalene anterior muscle [figure 1]. Follow-up and Outcome The patient responded very well to the injection, and the cough disappeared. Discussion After reviewing the genuine literature, we identified several cases of TOD, including a 45-year-old male with right phrenic nerve paralysis post-operation resolving in 3-6 months, a 45-year-old female with postoperative unilateral right diaphragm dysfunction following TOD, and a 40-year-old female with lung herniation after thoracic outlet decompression surgery, which was successfully treated with thoracoscopic reduction and resection, showing no signs of recurrence after 9 months. These cases highlight the varied presentations and outcomes of TOD complications, ranging from respiratory issues to chronic pain, and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and tailored management strategies [Table 1] [9-11]. Table 1. Characteristics of cases of thoracic outlet decompression complication. Author (year)reference No. Case Age Gender Presentation Previous history Clinical examination Imaging findings Management Complication Outcome Heine et al. (1995) [9] 1 45 Male Numbness and tingling in the right arm, shortness of breath post-operation Normal pulmonary reserve Post-operation: Dyspnea in the supine position, respiratory rate of 26 breaths per minute, decreased breath sounds in the right hemithorax Chest radiograph: Markedly elevated right hemidiaphragm. Fluoroscopic evaluation: Confirmed right phrenic nerve palsy with right diaphragmatic paralysis Initial: Restrict activities as tolerated. Follow-up: Continued elevation of the right hemidiaphragm at 3 months, normal pulmonary function tests in the seated position, moderate restrictive defect in the supine position. Six months post-operation: Asymptomatic, normal chest radiograph and fluoroscopic examination, normal pulmonary function tests in both seated and supine positions Right phrenic nerve paralysis leading to unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis Resolution of phrenic nerve paralysis within 3 to 6 months post-operation Cain et al. (2021) [10] 1 45 Female Thoracic outlet syndrome Protein C deficiency, recent right thoracic outlet decompression surgery (3 weeks prior), left-sided thoracic outlet decompression surgery (7 months prior) dyspnea on exertion Point-of-care ultrasound: decreased movement of right hemidiaphragm compared to left. CT angiography: marked right hemidiaphragm elevation with compressive atelectasis. Sniff test: abnormal motion of right hemidiaphragm during respiration and paradoxical movement during sniff. Not mentioned Diagnosed with postoperative unilateral right diaphragm dysfunction. Not mentioned Su et al. (2012) [11] 1 40 Female Chronic left shoulder pain, left upper extremity pain, paresthesias, numbness, decreased functional range of motion of the left shoulder, worsening of symptoms with arm elevation, dyspnea on exertion (4 years after thoracic outlet syndrom decompression) Smoking, previous arthroscopic subacromial decompression and cervical discectomy and fusion, thoracic outlet decompression (supraclavicular approach) 4 years prior Localizing tenderness over the left supraclavicular space, reproducible arm symptoms, visible bulge on the left side of the neck that increased with coughing and exhalation CT scan: Herniation of a large emphysematous bulla from the apex of the left lung into the supraclavicular space, possible compression of the brachial plexus (size: 5.3 x 4.3 x 3.6 cm) Thoracoscopic reduction and resection of the herniated lung, pleural flap closure of the defect Lung herniation Discharged on postoperative day 2 with improvement on chest X-ray. No signs of lung herniation at 9 months follow-up, improvement of arm pain and dyspnea. The shoulder structure predisposes the neurovascular bundle toward the upper limb to compressions during arm abduction at various levels of the thoracic outlet pathway. This neurovascular positional compression may cause pain, discomfort, or problems known as TOS. TOS is classed as a rare disease on both sides of the Atlantic ("NORD®" rare disease database/ORPHANET n°97330), with an estimated frequency of 2.5 to 4.0 cases per 100,000 people per year in the United States and 3 to 4 cases per 100,000 people per year in France. The high frequency of observations in athletes has prompted some scholars to believe that the prevalence of TOS may be significantly higher in these people [12]. In the current study, a 41-year-old female had been experiencing bilateral upper limb discomfort and numbness for 15 years, with more pronounced symptoms on the right side. Clinical examination involves specific physical maneuvers to identify the type and cause of the syndrome. For nTOS, which is the most common form, physical exams include neck rotation and head tilting, which can elicit symptoms in the contralateral extremity, and the upper limb tension test (ULTT), which is comparable to the straight leg raising test for the