Surgical outcomes for occluded venous thoracic outlet syndrome following transaxillary first rib resection

ObjectiveSurgical decompression via transaxillary first rib resection (TFRR) is often performed in patients presenting with venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS). We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of TFRR based on chronicity of completely occluded axillo-subclavian veins in VTOS.MethodsWe performed a retrospective institutional review of all patients who underwent TFRR for VTOS and had a completely occluded axillo-subclavian vein between 2003 to 2022. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the time of inciting VTOS event to TFRR acuity of their venous occlusion: <4 weeks, 4-12 weeks and >12 weeks. We evaluated the association of TFRR timing with one-year outcomes including patency and symptomatic improvement. We used Chi-square test to compare baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes.ResultsOverall, 103 patients underwent TFRR for VTOS with a completely occluded axillo-subclavian vein (median age 30.0 years, 42.7% female, 8.8% non-White), of which 28 patients had occlusion < 4 weeks, 36 patients had occlusion 4-12 weeks, and 39 patients had occlusion >12 weeks. Postoperative venogram performed 2-3 weeks after TFRR demonstrated that 78.6% in the <4 weeks group, 72.2% in the 4-12 weeks group and 61.5% in the >12 weeks group had some degree of recanalization (p=0.76). Postoperative balloon angioplasty was successfully performed in 60 patients with stenosed/occluded axillo-subclavian vein at the time of postoperative venogram. At 10–14-month followup, 79.2% in the <4 weeks group, 73.3% in the 4-12 weeks group, and 73.3% in the >12 weeks group had patent axillo-subclavian veins based on duplex ultrasound (p=0.86). Among patients who underwent postoperative balloon angioplasty, 80.0%, 85.0% and 100% in the <4 weeks, 4-12 weeks and >12 weeks groups respectively demonstrated patency at 10-14 months (p=0.31). Symptomatic improvement was reported in 95.7% in the < 4 weeks group, 96.7% in the 4-12 weeks group and 93.5% in the >12 weeks group (P=0.84).ConclusionTFRR offers excellent postoperative outcomes for symptomatic VTOS patients, even in cases of completely occluded axillo-subclavian veins, regardless of the chronicity of the occlusion. By 14 months, 95.2% of patients experienced symptomatic improvement, and 75% attained venous patency.