Radiofrequency Percutaneous Upper-Thoracic Sympathectomy

WE performed 15 upper-thoracic sympathectomies, 4 of which were bilateral, by percutaneous radiofrequency destruction of the appropriate sympathetic ganglia.1 Good to excellent results were achieved in 18 of the 19 limbs in patients, who were 14 to 71 years of age. Follow-up times ranged from two months to five years, averaging 22 months. The ease and simplicity of this technique may make it useful for treating upper-extremity vascular disorders and causalgia, palmar hyperhidrosis, and refractory angina and tachyarrhythmias.MethodsUpper-thoracic radiofrequency sympathectomies are usually done in day surgery under local anesthesia. Patients arc positioned prone under a C-arm fluoroscope. For . . .