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, September 14, 2009

PAROTID DEGENERATION SECRETION FOLLOWING SYMPATHECTOMY

January 1, 1982 Experimental Physiology, 67, 7-15.

Correspondingly the acini were loaded with secretory granules at 12 and 48 hours but were extensively depleted of granules at 24 hours. This loss of granules is considered to be due to sympathetic "degeneration secretion" caused by the release of noradrenaline from the degenerating adrenergic nerves between 12 and 24 hours after ganglionectomy. This is thought to be the first example of morphological change resulting from "degeneration activation" to be recorded microscopically.
Cell Tissue Res. 1975 Sep 16;162(1):1-12.

Degeneration Secretion and Supersensitivity in Salivary Glands following Denervations, and the Effects on Choline Acetyltransferase Activity.
Garrett JR, Ekstr�m J, Anderson LC (eds): Neural Mechanisms of Salivary Gland Secretion.Front Oral Biol. Basel, Karger, 1999, vol 11, pp 166-184
(DOI: 10.1159/000061117)

Circulating catecholamines, however, influence the amount of amylase and peroxidase secreted by the rat parotid gland in response to parasympathetic nerve stimulation and account for most of the increased secretion of these enzymes following chronic sympathectomy.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1193204

There was a reduction in all proline-rich proteins (PRP) in the saliva following sympathectomy.
http://www.find-health-articles.com/rec_pub_2450385-influences-short-term-sympathectomy-composition-proteins-rat-parotid.htm

Sympathectomy decreases the release of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) from blood vessels

Sympathectomy decreases and adrenergic stimulation increases the release of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) from blood vessels: Functional evidence for a neurologic regulation of plasmin production within vessel walls and other tissue matrices http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/63500193/abstract

Left cardiac sympathectomy prevents exercise-induced QTc prolongation in congenital long QT syndrome

Exp Clin Cardiol. 2003 Spring; 8(1): 31–32.
PMCID: PMC2716198
Copyright © 2003, Pulsus Group Inc. All rights reserved
Lexin Wang, MD PhD
School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Correspondence and reprints: Dr Lexin Wang, School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia. Telephone +61-2-6933-2909, fax +61-2-6933-2587, e-mail, lwang@csu.edu.au

ability of blood platelets to aggregate is significantly lower

It is shown that the ability of blood platelets to aggregate in partially and completely sympathectomized rats is significantly lower than in intact animals. The blood clotting system of sympathectomized rats is hyperactive. The sympathectomy-provoked changes may be due to the increased content of adrenaline in the blood.

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
PublisherBirkhäuser Basel
ISSN1420-682X (Print) 1420-9071 (Online)
IssueVolume 36, Number 7 / July, 1980

esidual pneumothorax is common,gas exchange may be impaired and the lung is at some risk of recollapse

Editor- Cameron may not advocate that bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy should be staged but I certainly do .It may be eccentric but it is safe.Immediate sustained full reexpansion and perfect functioning of a lung that was completely deflated a few minutes before cannot be guaranteed. Residual pneumothorax is common,gas exchange may be impaired and the lung is at some risk of recollapse.To collapse the contralateral normal lung in such circumstances might be the practice of a majority of surgeons but it is still unwise.Collapse of one lung is a misfortune, collapse of both lungs is not compatible with life.

Cameron`s claim that there has been only one death attributable to synchronous bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy is implausible. Surgeons and anaesthetists are reticent in publicizing such events and Civil Law Reports of settled cases are an inadequate measure of the current running total. The custom of a majority is no guarantee of safety and is seldom a guide to best medical practice.
Jack Collin,
Consultant Surgeon
Oxford
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/320/7244/1221

After unilateral sympathectomy the incidence of medial calcinosis on the operated side was significantly higher than on the non-operated side

Six to eight years after uni- or bilateral lumbar sympathectomy 60 patients were investigated radiologically for medial calcinosis of foot arteries. Of 60 patients, 55 had Mönckeberg's sclerosis. In 93% of the patients who had undergone bilateral operation medial calcification was seen in both feet. After unilateral sympathectomy the incidence of medial calcinosis on the operated side was significantly higher than on the non-operated side (88% versus 18%, p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between diabetics and non-diabetics. These findings suggest that medial calcification is related to autonomic neuropathy of peripheral vessels. Fifty-two of 160 patients (32.5%) with severe arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs showed medial calcification of foot arteries. Mönckeberg's sclerosis was significantly associated with the peripheral type of vascular disease (p less than 0.025).
Klin Wochenschr. 1985 Mar 1;63(5):211-6.
PMID: 3990163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

Medial arterial calcification (MAC) is a frequent vascular finding in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Morphologically distinct from focal calcifications of atherosclerosis its radiographically distinct tramline pattern is frequently encountered in the arteries of the lower extremities. MAC is inconsistently related to age, duration and therapy of diabetes. In contrast, a strong association with diabetic polyneuropathy and familial aggregation have been documented. Although initially considered benign MAC is now recognized as a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Investigations into MAC pathogenes and into its role in vascular pathophysiology are underway.


Zeitschrift für Kardiologie
Publisher
Steinkopff
ISSN0300-5860 (Print) 1435-1285 (Online)
IssueVolume 89, Number 14 / February, 2000
DOI10.1007/s003920070107

Reduced brain perfusion and cognitive performance

Chronically low blood pressure is accompanied by a variety of complaints including fatigue, reduced drive, faintness, dizziness, headaches, palpitations, and increased pain sensitivity [1–4]. In addition, hypotensive individuals report cognitive impairment, above all deficits in attention and memory. Nevertheless, it is generally the case that in research, as well as in clinical practice, relatively little importance is ascribed to hypotension. One reason for this is that, despite mental symptoms, cerebral dysfunction generally is not taken into account [1]. This is a consequence of the current doctrine that low systemic blood pressure is compensated by autoregulatory processes which prevent reduced blood perfusion of the brain [5, 6].

Some recent findings challenge this doctrine: reduced cognitive performance in hypotension has been demonstrated by neuropsychological testing, and EEG studies have revealed diminished cortical activity. Moreover, the assumption of unimpaired brain perfusion in hypotension no longer holds. In the present review the necessity of a reappraisal concerning hypotension is discussed in light of the relationship between blood pressure and cerebral functioning.

Clin Auton Res. 2007 April; 17(2): 69–76.
Published online 2006 November 14. doi: 10.1007/s10286-006-0379-7.
PMCID: PMC1858602

Stefan Duschekcorresponding author and Rainer Schandry
Stefan Duschek, Phone: +49-89/2180-5297, Fax: +49-89/2180-5233, Email: duschek@psy.uni-muenchen.de

Only 20.3% suffered from severe CH

Sympathectomy is the treatment of choice for primary hyperhidrosis. One curious occurrence that is difficult to explain from an anatomophysiological point of view in cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) is the observed improvement in plantar hyperhidrosis (PLH). Nevertheless, current reports on VATS rarely describe the effect on PLH or just give superficial data. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate, how surgery affects PLH in patients with PH and PLH over one-year period. From May 2003 to January 2004, 70 consecutive patients with combined PH and PLH underwent VATS at the T2, T3, or T4 ganglion level (47 women and 23 men, with mean age of 23 years). Immediately after the operation, all the patients said they were free from PH episodes, except for two patients (2.8%) who suffered from continued PH. Compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) of various degrees was observed in 58 (90.6%) patients after one year. Only 13 (20.3%) suffered from severe CH. There was a great initial improvement in PLH in 50% of the cases, followed by progressive regression, such that only 23.4% still presented that improvement after one year. The number of cases without overall improvement increased progressively (from 17.1% to 37.5%) and the numbers with slight improvement remained stable (32.9–39.1%). Of the 24 patients with no improvement after one year, 6 patients graded plantar sweating worse.
Wolosker, Nelson1 nwolosker@yahoo.com.br
Yazbek, Guilherme1
Milanez de Campos, José2
Kauffman, Paulo1
Ishy, Augusto2
Puech-Leão, Pedro1
Source:
Clinical Autonomic Research; Jun2007, Vol. 17 Issue 3, p172-176, 5p, 1 chart

statistically significant changes were recorded in the head, hands, axillas, and soles

Redistribution of perspiration as reported by the patients comprised significant reduction in the palms, axillas, and soles, and an increase in the abdomen, back, and gluteal and popliteal regions. Regarding the incidence of anhidrosis by anatomical location, statistically significant changes were recorded in the head, hands, axillas, and soles ( p < 0.001). Bilateral upper thoracic sympathicolysis is followed by redistribution of body perspiration, with a clear decrease in the zones regulated by mental or emotional stimuli, and an increase in the areas regulated by environmental stimuli, though we are unable to establish the etiology of this redistribution.
Surgical Endoscopy; Nov2007, Vol. 21 Issue 11, p2030-2033, 4p, 2 charts

Elimination of the dominant signal (e.g., surgical sympathectomy) may allow a secondary- signal to control phase

Sympathetic input modulates, but does not determine, phase of peripheral circadian oscillators.

American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology; Jul2008, Vol. 64 Issue 1, pR355-R360, 6p, 2 charts, 2 graphs

Similar pathological effects of sympathectomy and hypercholesterolemia on arterial smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts

Acta Histochemica; Jul2008, Vol. 110 Issue 4, p302-313, 12p

Six percent of the patients regret the surgery because of severe CS

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery; Sep2008, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p514-519, 6p

Pulmonary Function and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness.

Of 46 patients who had a negative result for methacholine challenge preoperatively, 12 (26%) became positive after surgery. In terms of the level of sympathectomy, T3 sympathectomy significantly increased the ratio of patients exhibiting a positive response to methacholine (from 19% to 34%, respectively) (p <>sympathectomy can adversely affect lung function early after surgery, although the clinical significance is uncertain. It may also exert an influence on the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, especially when performed at the T3 level.
Journal of Asthma; Apr2009, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p276-279, 4p, 3 charts

sympathectomy can produce capillary abnormalities in the retina similar to those seen in early diabetes

Diabetes can cause damage to sympathetic nerves, and we have previously shown that experimental sympathectomy can produce capillary abnormalities in the retina similar to those seen in early diabetes.
Experimental Eye Research; Jun2009, Vol. 88 Issue 6, p1014-1019, 6p
Steinle, Jena J.1 jsteinl1@utmem.edu
Kern, Timothy S.2
Thomas, Steven A.3
McFadyen-Ketchum, Lisa S.4
Smith, Christopher P.4

Bilateral surgical sympathectomy provides a valuable tool for future investigations of the cellular basis of supersensitivity in the myocardium

Volume 234, Issue 1, pp. 280-287, 07/01/1985
Copyright © 1985 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Long-Term Denervation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Causes Not Only Functional but Structural Change

Rosemary D. Bevan, Hiromichi Tsuru

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.

Address of Corresponding Author

Blood Vessels 1979;16:109-112 (DOI: 10.1159/000158197)

Bilateral cervical sympathectomies should be avoided because of the destruction of cardioaccelerator tone

http://www.hiesiger.com/physicians/physicianrfl.html

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Receptor hypersensitivity is a common problem after significant sympathetic injury

Because of their size and location, injuries to the sympathetic ganglia or chain is rarely indicated or performed. Receptor hypersensitivity is a common problem after significant sympathetic injury, including clammy hands, erythema, and allodynia. When sympathetic nerves regenerate, they may establish aberrant connections to sensory receptors, muscles, or other sympathetics receptors; this may lead to an over-response or abnormal response.
http://wiki.cns.org/wiki/index.php/Injury,_Sympathetic_Nerve

Monday, September 7, 2009

Long-term cardiopulmonary function after thoracic sympathectomy

Lung function tests revealed a significant decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF(25%-75%)) in both groups (FEV(1) of -6.3% and FEF(25%-75%) of -9.1% in the conventional thoracic sympathectomy group and FEV(1) of -3.5% and FEF(25%-75%) of -12.3% in the simplified thoracic sympathectomy group). Dlco and heart rate at rest and maximal values after exercise were also significantly reduced in both groups (Dlco of -4.2%, Dlco corrected by alveolar volume of -6.1%, resting heart rate of -11.8 beats/min, and maximal heart rate of -9.5 beats/min in the conventional thoracic sympathectomy group and Dlco of -3.9%, Dlco corrected by alveolar volume of -5.2%, resting heart rate of -10.7 beats/min, and maximal heart rate of -17.6 beats/min in the simplified thoracic sympathectomy group).
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009 Jun 25.
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