Cell body reorganization in the spinal cord after elective surgery to treat palmar sweating

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

Spinal cord infarction occurring during thoraco-lumbar sympathectomy
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1963;26:418-421 doi:10.1136/jnnp.26.5.418

Friday, August 31, 2012

Complications of surgical (Thoracic and Lumbar) Sympathectomy


Post-sympathectomy neuralgia - pain overlying the scapula
Compensatory sweating - involving the lover back or face
Pneumothorax
Bleeding due to azygos vein or intercostal artery injury
Winged scapula due to long thoracic nerve injury (p. 517)

Mastery of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Gerald B. Zelenock, Thomas S. Huber, Louis M. Messina, Alan B. Lumsden, Gregory L. Moneta
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 15/12/2005 - 900 pages