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Review
. 2018 Feb 20;24(1):40-42.
doi: 10.5761/atcs.cr.17-00103. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

Paralysis of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle after a Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Hyun Min Cho  1 , Hee Je Sim  2 , Do Hyung Kim  2 , Mi Hee Lim  2 , Sang Kwon Lee  2
Affiliations
Review

Paralysis of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle after a Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Hyun Min Cho et al. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. .

Abstract

The rectus abdominis muscle is innervated by intercostal nerves T7-T12, and most thoracotomies are performed through the fourth to sixth intercostal spaces, so direct nerve damage to the rectus abdominis seems unlikely. However, at least one trocar is inserted below the seventh intercostal space in most multi-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATSs), and injury of the seventh or lower intercostal nerve with related paralysis of the rectus abdominis is possible, albeit rare. Only two cases of rectus abdominis paralysis caused by after VATSs have been reported, and these cases were not permanent injuries. This is the first report of permanent paralysis of the rectus abdominis after VATSs.

Keywords: after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; paralysis; rectus abdominis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. (a) Preoperative abdominal CT scan revealed symmetry in the thickness of both sides of the rectus abdominis. (b) Abdominal CT on postoperative day 15 showed asymmetry in the thickness of both sides of the rectus abdominis. (c) Abdominal CT 2 years after the surgery showed progressive worsening of muscle atrophy. CT: computed tomography
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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