[CT-guided thoracal sympathicolysis for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic thoracal pain syndromes in 6 patients].

UNLABELLED: CT-guided thoracal sympathicolysis for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic thoracal pain syndromes in 6 patients.

PURPOSE: Retrospective evaluation of the safety and effectivity of CT-guided percutaneous thoracal sympathicolysis (CT-TSL) in the treatment of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) of the upper limb and chronic thoracal pain syndromes. Comparison of our own experience with literature reports.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Between 6/96 and 12/99, 4 patients with PAOD of the upper limb and two with chronic thoracal pain syndromes caused by herpes zoster were treated by unilateral CT-TSL.

RESULTS

18, 21 and 32 months after the intervention 3 out of 4 patients treated for PAOD reported subjective improvements, and one remained unchanged. Two patients treated for pain syndromes showed no long-term benefit of the procedure. There were no serious complications.

CONCLUSION

The CT-TSL is an alternative method in the treatment of PAOD in patients who are unsuitable for treatment by revascularization.