[Thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of chronic ischemia of upper extremities and excessive sweating of the palms].

The results are presented of treatment of 65 patients with chronic peripheral ischaemia of upper extremities and excessive sweating of the palms, in whom 78 thoracic sympathectomies were done by the Smitwick method in the years 1972-1989. The cause of ischaemia in 45 patients were organic changes (TO, AO), in 18 cases--functional changes (Raynaud syndrome), and in two patients--excessive sweating of the palms. Patients with trophic changes were 72% of those surgically treated. Long-term follow-up (8.5 years on the average) demonstrated a significant improvement in the group of organic changes in 84% of the surgically treated cases, in the group of functional changes in 83.2% of cases, and in excessive sweating of the palms in 100% of cases. In five patients contralateral effect of thoracic sympathectomy was observed. The authors discussed the extent of sympathetic trunk removal. They think that thoracic sympathectomy is a procedure of choice in cases of peripheral ischaemic changes in upper extremities not responding to conservative treatment.