Abstract
The patient was a 62-year-old woman receiving chronic hemodialysis for 13 years. She had demonstrated symptoms of venous hypertension such as pain in the finger-tips or swelling of the left upper extremity since July 2006. Venography demonstrated high grade stenosis of the left brachiocephalic vein. Follow-up IVUS (intravascular ultrasound) demonstrated that 87% stenosis persisted after the first PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty). Consequently, we performed second PTA with a WallstentTM placement successfully. Seven days later, the symptoms of vocal cord paralysis such as aspiration, dyspnea or dysphonia appeared. Considering the treated segment and onset, it was obvious that the symptoms were associated with PTA. We can avoid most complications by prudent procedure, however complications occured in this case despite great deliberation before performing PTA. Although vocal cord paralysis due to interventional therapy is very unusual, we should be aware of the possibility of this complication.
