Long-term Follow-up of Brachial Artery Ligation in Children

Ligation of the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa in children can be performed without limb loss, but the effect on subsequent limb growth is unknown. From 1969 to 1974, brachial artery ligation for insertion of a Scribner shunt was performed in 27 patients with a mean age of 8.4 years (range, 3 to 15 years). We examined 11 patients, all with functional renal transplants, a mean of 15.8 years (range, 13 to 18 years) after ligation. Nine patients had unilateral ligation and two had bilateral ligation. The patients were examined for arm length and circumference, resting blood pressure at the wrist, neurologic function of the arm, and exercise tolerance. A significant difference in resting arterial pressures in the ligated extremity was uniformly noted (mean systolic pressure 106 mmHg versus 123 mmHg in 7 patients, p less than 0.01). Although no patient specifically complained of problems with the ligated side, six of nine patients with unilateral ligation experienced arm discomfort on stress testing. There was no significant difference in limb circumference or length between the ligated and unligated extremity. Ligation of the brachial artery in growing children with renal disease caused diminished resting pressure and mildly decreased exercise tolerance but did not lead to limb loss or subsequent growth abnormalities.