Introduction: The upper extremity is a frequent site of injury. Upper limb arterial thromboembolism, a rare complication of such injuries, may be missed if typical signs, such as pain, pulselessness, and sensory loss, cannot be ascertained or are overlooked by physicians, especially in the case of polytrauma or comatose patients.
Case presentation: In this report, we present the case of a left brachial artery thromboembolism in a polytrauma patient for which brachial artery embolectomy was performed. Before surgery, the diagnosis was established with doppler ultrasonography of the upper limb vessels, performed upon suspicion of thrombus formation. Brachial artery arteriotomy and thrombo-embolectomy were performed using a size 6 Fr Fogarty catheter, after which 500 IU heparin was flushed to ensure adequate back and forward flow. Limb function and blood flow were restored immediately after the procedure.
Conclusion: A high index of suspicion, timely assessment, and a prompt intervention can significantly reduce the rate of limb ischemia and/or amputations in polytrauma patients, especially in resource-limited settings.
