Ultrasound observation of tissue fluid infiltration causing stridor in a woman undergoing shoulder arthroscopy.

Respiratory stridor developed rapidly during an interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder arthroscopy in an obese woman. Extensive cervicothoracic edema due to tissue diffusion of the arthroscopic fluid was suspected. The outcome of patient after conservative management was satisfactory. We give a brief review of how this complication develops, the ultrasound findings, and briefly discuss similar cases.