collateral effects of thoracic sympathectomy not disclosed to patients

Several reports also demonstrate significantly lower heart rate increases during exercise in subjects who have undergone bilateral ISS [9–12] compared to pre-surgical levels. In spite of this high occurrence, recent reviews on the usual collateral effects of thoracic sympathectomy still do not include these possible cardiac consequences [6].

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the effect of unilateral and bilateral ISS on heart rate response to exercise in the same patients. A significant decrease in the heart rate to workload relationship during exercise is constantly observed a few weeks after surgery, but does not seem to exclusively result from right-sided surgery as previously suggested.
Patients are generally aware of severe but infrequent complications. They should also be informed of the relative exercise bradycardia resulting from this kind of surgery.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2001;20:1095-1100

Cervico-thoracic sympathectomy for Long QT Syndrome

Left cervicothoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy should be reserved for patients with LQTS who are intolerant of beta-blockers or have recurrent syncope that is refractory to beta-blocker.
Cardiovasc Surg. 1995, 3:475–478

sympathectomy tended to accelerate the sclerodermatous and trophic ulcerative processes

by RJ Calvert - 1955