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

Friday, July 16, 2010

TES is not as minor a procedure as usually asserted

Although morbidity was low, significant complications of TES (Thoracic endoscopic sympathectomy) occurred. Patients should be clearly warned that TES is not as minor a procedure as usually asserted. Complications as well as adverse effects should be considered when discussing this surgical indication.
Ann Thorac Surg 71(4):1116-9 (2001)