Transaxillary sympathectomy (T2 to T4) for relief of vasospastic/sympathetic pain of upper extremities.

Experience with 22 consecutive thoracic sympathectomies is presented. Diagnoses included minor causalgia (12), mixed vasospastic and occlusive disease (4), Raynaud's disease (4), and frostbite with ulceration (2). The operation was a transaxillary resection of ganglia T2, T3, and T4. Both objective and subjective results indicate that this type of sympathectomy is as good as more extensive resections without the risk of a Horner's syndrome. Morbidity was minor but frequent and included dysesthesia, pneumothorax, and compensatory sweating. The success rate of 77%.