Ischemic injury to the brachial plexus following subclavian flap aortoplasty.

An ischemic brachial plexus lesion developed 6 days postoperatively in an infant undergoing subclavian flap aortoplasty for coarctation. To our knowledge, this complication has never been previously reported. Types of postoperative brachial plexus lesions are discussed. The blood supply to the brachial plexus is described. An ischemic lesion of the plexus should be suspected when brachial palsy follows operations that involve sacrifice of the subclavian artery.