With arterial and venous TOS, outcomes tend to be much better post surgery. Pneumothorax is common during surgery and it is likely that you won't even know it happened if they don't tell you. PE is something they are aware of and will look for- you'll probably be on blood thinners while you're in the hospital to prevent them. Nerve damage isn't really all that common if you have a competent surgeon and chest tubes are just part of the surgery and nothing too scarey.

I just had both sides done at once and am almost 3 months post op. I have other musculoskeletal issues that continue to plague me, but my TOS symptoms are much better and I would do the surgery again.

Deep breath! You'll be okay!

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement!

Curious if any of you had the armpit tightness/discomfort with any of this. Maybe from the swelling, maybe from using my arm differently. Just wondering. Those muscles just seems soooo tight the last two days.

Got me wondering now...... I am curious if that vein is being compressed by the pectoralis minor instead of the first rib (pectoralis minor syndrome). If so, this really changes the game. Had that discomfort, tightness and pain in the side of the chest/armpit area since day one. Hmmmmmm

Yes, I had these symptoms but the real issue was in my thoracic outlet and not under the pec minor. There's something called double (or multiple) crush syndrome. When a nerve is ticked off higher up the line it makes even minor compression lower down the line seem much worse than it actually is. For example, I had the armpit tightness/sensation that a broomstick was being pressed into my armpit and carpal tunnel symptoms. When my first ribs were removed, the other two areas no longer bothered me. It's about figuring out what area is the real issue or if both of them are.

Went to my surgeon to ask about 2 pages of questions today. She said the surgery may do nothing to assist the flow in the collateral veins.........BUT... She said after discussing me with her assistant, if there is no or little improvement after surgery, they want to do a stent . I am so happy that they are going to do this. Maybe there is hope after all!!.

It is my understanding with VTOS that a stent should never be used. Please check this out.

Regis

Like onelessrib stated, a stent should never be used in VTOS and the fact that they are suggesting this isn't a real encouraging sign that they are familiar with TOS at all. :-(

According to the surgeons, the vein never had a DVT. It is actually compressed and has built up scar tissue. I am told this is the reason for the stent. What is the reason for stents no being appropriate? The only negatives I have read about were patients that did not have the decompression/rib resection done.

In my case, the surgery may decrease some compression of the collaterals, but there is no guarantee. The only other option is grafting the vein correct?

I think the stents eventually fail when the 1st rib is intact. I don't know if stents are ok once the rib is removed.