Other Disorders
Venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS)
VTOS also known as Paget-Schroetter Syndrome occurs when there is compression of the subclavian vein between the clavicle and the first rib leading to venous obstruction and thrombosis.
Patients present with arm swelling, discoloration, and discomfort. This is often seen in active young adults performing repetitive overhead activities such as baseball pitchers, swimmers, weight lifters and certain professionals.
VTOS is diagnosed clinically by unilateral arm swelling in the above patient population, with additional diagnostic imaging of CT or ultrasound.
Treatment initially required anticoagulation (blood thinning medication) and thrombolytic drugs to clear out the clot. Once the clot burden is removed, our surgeons remove the first rib, through a small infraclavicular incision, to eliminate further compression.
Temporal arteritis
Temporal arteritis (aka Giant Cell Arteritis) is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the head and brain become inflamed or damaged. Although this condition usually occurs in the temporal arteries, it can occur in almost any medium to large artery in the body.
Risk Factors of Temporal Arteritis include being over the age of 50, being of Northern European or Scandinavian descent, female gender, and excessive doses of certain antibiotics.
Although the exact cause of the condition is unknown, doctors believe it may be linked to the body’s autoimmune response.
Symptoms of Temporal Arteritis can include double vision, sudden and potentially permanent loss of vision in one eye, a throbbing headache in the temples, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, jaw pain, fever, unintentional weight loss, pain and/or stiffness in the shoulder or hip, tenderness in the scalp and temple areas.
In addition to clinical examination, and laboratory testing, our surgeons perform in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia to make the diagnosis.
Treatment of Temporal Arteritis can include, aspirin, corticosteroid therapy/oral corticosteroids
Iron and Vitamin supplements. Treatment typically lasts for one to two years.
Your outlook for temporal arteritis will depend on when you’re diagnosed and how quickly you’re able to start treatment. When left untreated, temporal arteritis can cause serious damage to the blood vessels in your body, along with other life-threatening side effects.