Improvements in Symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Suspected to Have Been Caused by a Worsening of Interstitial Pneumonia: A Case Study

Abstract

[Purpose] This paper reports a case in which intervention successfully improved symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome suspected to have been caused by a worsening of interstitial pneumonia. [Participant and Methods] An 80-year-old female, who had been receiving continuous home oxygen therapy at 0.5 L/minute for interstitial pneumonia, but was admitted to hospital due to respiratory distress, pain and sensory disorder of the left upper limb, and a decreased percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation level resulting from a worsening of interstitial pneumonia, was treated mainly with pulmonary rehabilitation, including stretching of the left scalene muscles, relaxation, and thoracic strengthening. [Results] The pain and sensory disorder were removed. [Conclusion] The intervention focusing on respiratory function successfully improved the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome suspected to have been caused by a worsening of interstitial pneumonia, suggesting that a respiratory disease was responsible for the development of the syndrome.