73% of patients suffered form 'gustatory sweating' and variety of phenomena

In a series of 100 bilateral upper dorsal sympathectomies performed for palmar hyperhidrosis,
gustatory sweating and other gustatory phenomena were reported by 68 of 93 patients (73%),
followed up for an average of 11/2 years. These gustatory phenomena were quite different from
physiologic gustatory sweating: a wide range of gustatory stimuli caused a variety of phenomena in
varied locations. There was a negative correlation between the incidence of these phenomena and the
occurrence of Horner's syndrome after sympathectomy. Analysis of our observations, and of clinical
and experimental work of others, leads to the conclusion that gustatory phenomena after upper
dorsal sympathectomy are the result of preganglionic sympathetic regeneration or collateral sprouting
with aberrant synapses in the superior cervical ganglion.
•
Arch Neurol. 1977;34(10):619-623.

36% intense 'compensatory sweating'

The results and complication rates have not necessarily been similar in reports worldwide. This can be explained in part due to the lack of clear-cut definitions for the indications, success, complications, side effects, and short- and long-term follow-up data of the procedures. It is well known that sympathectomy is often complicated by CH; the reported incidence rates vary greatly from 30% to 84% [15]. In our series it has been noted in 62.5% of the patients (26.5% moderate and 36% intense).

Although VATS sympathectomy is a simple and quick procedure, unusual complications such as chylothorax may occur [16]. However, lethal or potentially serious complications have also been reported [8, 17, 18], such as subclavian artery injury, damage to brachial plexus, large hemothorax, cerebral edema, neurologic sequelae, sinus bradycardia, and cardiac arrest.
Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:886-891

significant decrease of MAP, cardiac arrythmia, cardiac arrest and hypoxemia - complications of ETS surgery

Both MAP 1 and MAP2were reduced after sympahtectomy (P < 0.05). Heart rate was reduced transiently after the sympahtectomy and returned to the baseline value. PaO2 was reduced in 10 min after each right lung ventilation (P < 0.05) and left lung ventilation (P < 0.05).

Since thoracoscopic sympathectomy can rarely cause a significant decrease of MAP, cardiac arrythmia, cardiac arrest and hypoxemia, we concluded that invasive BP monitoring should be used for early detection of those complications and immediate arterial sampling.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
2004; 8: 147-153