I started reading this forum once my doctor told me the surgery I needed done was called rib resection. He made the surgery sound simple and told me low risk of complications. An overnight hospital stay, and 2-4 weeks recovery. I'm having it done at St Lukes in Bethlehem PA.

He told me my artery is being obliterated by the compression. I have very minimal pain symptoms, just alot of swelling when I use my arm. Does the surgery dealing with non neurological TOS have less complications?


After reading this forum, I don't know if I believe my doctor. I'm wondering whether it would be worth looking into a more conservative treatment, I don't want to have to deal with chronic pain too. Is there anyone that has had decompression surgery for artery/vein with minor complications?

Yes, generally the vascular compressions respond nicely.

The vascular system usually recovers instantly when the problem is removed, but a nerve can have damage and irritation that takes longer to hopefully fully recover from.

Have they done specific testing that shows the obliteration?

It sounds like you only have trouble with use, so maybe it is a intermittent/positional thing that therapy can help with over time, it isn't a quick 1 set of sessions though, it takes time to change the body back to where is should be.
Takes lots of work at home too with posture work and such.

Is it arterial or venous? - just curious if they told you.
Do you have the extra cervical rib or the dr is wanting to remove the first rib?

If you haven't had any PT , you can always try it- expert & advanced PT is best. Rookies or ones set in a certain rigid protocol can mess you up worse..

Was the possibility of clots mentioned at all in your case?

Best ideas is to make sure the surgeon is highly skilled -vascular surgeon usually. A few members had surgery recently so look for those threads on the list here.

My pulse still shuts down in my arms when raised up for over a minute, but I don't get swelling or anything serious , just white hands and some tingling but it goes away as soon as I lower and the blood flows back in.

After my rib resection surgery, I spent six days in the hospital. It was done in 2009. I still have issues as the scalene nerves were not removed. Although its a great improvement on pain level and I can do a lot more things I am not back to my old self. My vascular surgeon held off the surgery while I tried physical therapy, acupuncture, etc and we jointly decided to have it done after I suffered blood clots and my life was in danger. I did get two other opinions and trusted my vascular surgeon since he wasn't eager to perform the surgery. Maybe consider a second opinion would be an option for you. The hand swelling is not as bad and I still get numbness but I can now lift my arms overhead which would cause stroke like symptoms before the surgery...vertigo, blurry vision, dizziness.

I had transaxillary rib resection on the left side two weeks ago for both neurogenic and vascular compression. No complications and only 27 hours spent in the hospital.

My advice is to make sure your surgeon has done a good number of these operations with few complications.

They had me get a venogram and the doctor told me after that, that the artery is being severely damaged. I think they also said the vein is being compressed too which I guess is not allowing blood flow out and why my arm is swelling.

I don't have an extra rib, he just wants to remove the first and possibly take some scalene muscle out.

And yes they did say I have at least one clot in my arm right now, but didn't put me on any thinners to do the surgery. I guess the surgery might be a good idea then, because they want me to prevent any further clots from forming asap.

I'm having it done tomorrow, so I'll post my experience. Thanks for the response.

That is good to hear.

My surgeon did say he did quite a number of these operations, but I didn't ask how many resulted in complications. My surgeon is Bengt Ivarsson in St Lukes.

I wish there was a website that could report stuff like that.

I didn't mention, but they said I have at least one blood clot too, so I should probably just go with the surgery.

I'm hoping the complications after the surgery might be directly related to the symptoms before surgery.

I also think surgeon skill and your own overall health going into surgery are also factors.

Personally, I cut out red meat a few months ago to try and improve my overall health.

Had my surgery yesterday. Right rib resection, with scaleonectomy and brachial plexus neurolysis. I had two incisions performed, above and below the clavicle. I will post a picture tomorrow.

Woke up with hardly any pain, but I did not have much pain prior to the surgery. The main objective of the surgery was to decompress my artery and vein.

Sleep was okay, on and off, but was pretty comfortable the entire night I was there. I had a PCA and was given percocets the day after. I wish I could've stayed longer.

Tonight, I have numbness across the chest and a lingering pain at about a 4 out of 10. The surgery site feels really swollen and tight right now. I have a feeling i'm in for something tomorrow morning.

My doctor said to layoff the arm until my 2 week followup.

Take very good care of yourself!
Drink water, rest, do not even think of lifting anything, pushing, pulling.
Moving the arm is good, but let it heal! And ask for help.
Watch your posture especially while you are healing, dont slouch.
Eat well, nap, and do not let your pain meds lapse-take them on time.
Hope you are feeling much better before long!