Two Cases of Transient Nerve Palsy of Extremities after Surgical Resection of Gastric Cancer

Norikatsu Miyoshi, Yoshiyuki Fujiwara, Shuji Takiguchi, Hiroshi Miyata, Takushi Yasuda, Masahiko Yano and Morito Monden

Department of Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University

We report 2 cases of transient peroneal nerve palsy and brachial plexus palsy after surgical resection for gastric cancer. Case 1: A 50-year-old man undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for advanced gastric cancer of the spine reported numbness and weakness in both feet on the day after surgery. The administration of Vitamin B12 and physical rehabilitation were successful and he was discharged a month after surgery without any neurological deficits. Case 2: A 46-year-old man undergoing distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer of the spine with both arms abducted at 90° reported weakness in both arms on the day after surgery. The administration of steroids and vitamin B12, nerve block of the stellate ganglion, and physical rehabilitation were conducted and, 3 months after the surgery, he returned to work free of any deficits. The peroneal nerve palsy and brachial plexus palsy after abdominal surgery are very rare and few reports have been published. Intra operative overstretching and suppression of the nerves is assumed to be the main cause of palsy, suggesting the need to pay greater attention to the surgical position of patients during surgery.

Key words
surgical resection for gastric cancer, brachial plexus palsy, peroneal nerve palsy

Reprint requests
Norikatsu Miyoshi Department of Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases
1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-8511 JAPAN

Accepted
December 19, 2003

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