The pathophysiology of cervical and upper thoracic sympathetic surgery

T₂-T₃ ganglionectomy significantly decreases pulse rate and systolic blood pressure, reduces myocardial oxygen demand, increases left ventricular ejection fraction and prolongs Q-T interval. A certain loss of lung volume and decrease of pulmonary diffusion capacity for CO result from sympathectomy. Histomorphological muscle changes and neuro-histochemical and biochemical effects have also been observed.

M. Hashmonai^{1, 2} and D. Kopelman^{1, 3}

(1)	Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel http://www.springerlink.com/content/jrcm3h5k8pye9yyu/ Volume 13, Supplement 1 / December, 2003 Clinical Autonomic Research