You are evaluating a patient who is post a posterolateral thoracotomy procedure and is complaining of ipsilateral shoulder pain.Which of the following is LEAST likely a probable cause of the shoulder pain?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shoulder pain occurs after both thoracotomy and VATS and is thought to be primarily referred pain of diaphragmatic irritation transmitted by the phrenic nerve.Other probable causes include a chest drain placed too far into the apex of the hemithorax,the posterior end of a large posterolateral thoracotomy incision may not be blocked by a functioning thoracic epidural block,and chronic arthralgia of the shoulder prior to surgery that is exacerbated by positioning.

You Are Evaluating a Patient Who Is Post a Posterolateral