2024 Volume 33 Issue 6 Pages 361-365
A 31-year-old male right-handed professional baseball pitcher visited his previous doctor complaining of coldness in his right index and middle fingers and fatigue in his right upper limb after pitching. He was referred to our hospital because of a suspected upper limb ischemia. CT and ultrasound examinations revealed intimal thickening and thrombus occlusion of the axillary artery. Angiography also revealed occlusion of the axillary artery, and abundant collateral circulation to the periphery was visualized. Considering the future of his career as a baseball player, the decision was made to perform surgical revascularization. Surgical findings showed intimal thickening of the axillary artery and occlusion of the vascular lumen due to a thrombus. After removal of the thrombus and endarterectomy, angioplasty was performed using a bovine pericardial patch. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient returned to pitching in a game 6 months after being discharged from the hospital. Axillary artery occlusion in athletes is rare and can be difficult to diagnose, but with appropriate treatment the prognosis is relatively good.
