In general sympathectomy has been used for one or more of the following purposes:
1) to eliminate tonic or engendered responses which depend upon impulses in adrenergic nerves;
2) to eliminate visceral stores or adrenergic substances which depend upon the integrity of the postganglionic sympathetic innervation;
3) to eliminate postganglionic sympathetic tissue as a locus for the synthesis, uptake, binding, release and metabolism of adrenergic substances;
4) to eliminate visceral afferent fibers which are frequently distributed in common with autonomic nerves. The extent to which the surgical procedure is adjudged successful is usually related to the anatomical extent of the denervation and the time after operation at which the result is evaluated.
It is clear that "sympathectomy" is not a selective excision of adrenergic elements only. It is well recognized that preganglionic sympathectomy involves division of cholinergic elements ad sensory fibers.
Pharmacological Reviews, 1966 Vol. 18, No. 1. Part I