[Postoperative contralateral brachial plexus palsy after prolonged operation in lateral decubitus position].

We report a patient who developed postoperative contralateral brachial plexus palsy after prolonged surgery in lateral decubitus position. A 58-year-old man underwent hepatectomy because of metastatic liver tumor in left decubitus position. The surgical table was rotated anteriorly at 15 degrees. The surgery lasted for 7 hours and 50 minutes. After the surgery, he complained of limited arm elevation, hypesthesia of the arm, impaired flexion and extension of the elbow, on the right. These sensory and motor impairements resolved after rehabilitation for 7 days.