A case of shoulder pain following right basilic vein catheterization

We have experienced a case of total laryngectomy with graft of the rectus abdominis muscle skin flap because of the recurrent lingual cancer. Just before the operation, we used right basilic vein for introduction of a central venous catheter. Right shoulder pain occurred on the first postoperative day. After the operation, we found that the catheter from the right basilic vein was inserted to the right jugular vein. We pulled out it and inserted another catheter from the left subclavian vein. Shoulder pain diminished and then pyrexia and symptom of infection diminished. After recatheterization, shoulder pain was suspected to be the result of frozen shoulder. We should be aware that shoulder pain could occur by immobility of upper extremities when basilic venous catheter is in place.