Saturday, April 12, 2008

Sympathectomy - treatment for Long QT Syndrome

The long-term treatment is aimed at reducing the QT-interval duration and preventing the torsades and sudden death and includes use of oral [beta]-adrenergic blockers, implantation of permanent pacemaker/cardioverter-defibrillator, and left thoracic
sympathectomy.

American Heart Journal. 143(1):7-14, January 2002.
Khan, Ijaz A. MD, FACP, FACC

Sympathetic blocks can also alter the function of organs that have a sympathetic control component

Sympathetic blocks can also alter the function of organs that have a sympathetic control component...
However, surgical sympathectomy may result in a compensatory hyperhidrosis: a condition characterized by abnormally profuse sweating in a location remote form the sympathectomy. Other complications can also occur, including paresis, paralysis, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. Neurolytic procedures typically can only be considered if all other measures have failed.

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?IA=WO2005072433&wo=2005072433&DISPLAY=DESC