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

Monday, June 30, 2008

Surgeon declares result of sympathectomy "almost miraculous"

The results seem almost miraculous. In over 95% of all cases, the patients hands are dry and warm right after surgery. Hyperhidrosis of the feet is eliminated in about 60% of the cases. Facial sweating is helped in about 65% to 75% of the cases. Rapid heart rate and palpitations are also reduced dramatically. (Sic!)

http://users.rcn.com/szarnick/hidrosis.html

After the operation, some patients might experience some degree of sweating in other locations such as the thighs or back. Most patients say that they are not troubled by this extra perspiration and it is preferable to sweaty palms. In most cases, the condition improves over time.