The amount of compensatory sweating depends on the patient, the damage that the white rami communicans incurs, and the amount of cell body reorganization in the spinal cord after surgery.
Other potential complications include inadequate resection of the ganglia, gustatory sweating, pneumothorax, cardiac dysfunction, post-operative pain, and finally Horner’s syndrome secondary to resection of the stellate ganglion.
www.ubcmj.com/pdf/ubcmj_2_1_2010_24-29.pdf

After severing the cervical sympathetic trunk, the cells of the cervical sympathetic ganglion undergo transneuronic degeneration
After severing the sympathetic trunk, the cells of its origin undergo complete disintegration within a year.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0442.1967.tb00255.x/abstract

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Right vs left side thoracoscopic sympathectomy: effects of CO2 insufflation on haemodynamics

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to left side TS (thoracoscopic sympathectomy), direct compression by CO2 against the venae cava and right atrium and ventricle during right side TS caused reduction of the venous return and hence low CO (cardiac output), CI (cardiac index) and SV (stroke volume).

A A El-Dawlatly, A Al-Dohayan, A Samarkandi, F Algahdam, A Atef Department of Anaesthesia, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.
Ann Chir Gynaecol. 2001 ;90 (3):206-8 11695797