Unilateral and Bilateral Resection of the Major and Minor Splanchnic Nerves

On the basis of postmortem investigation and theoretical consideration, section of the splanchnic nerves was suggested by Jean 1 in 1921 for the relief of pyloric spasm, hyperacidity and hypersecretion. In 1923 Danielopolu, 2 considering the importance of the splanchnic nerves in the regulation of arterial pressure, conceived the idea of their resection in the treatment of hypertension. In the same year, Bruning 3 suggested the same surgical procedure, and in 1924 Pende 4 proposed before the Congress of Internal Medicine at Milan surgical treatment of arterial hypertension which consisted of resecting the left splanchnic nerves. In 1927 Pieri 5 performed unilateral resection of the splanchnic nerves for intestinal atony. In 1930 Pieri, 4 following the suggestion of Pende, successfully resected the left splanchnic nerves of two patients suffering from arterial hypertension. In 1932, Durante, 4 of Genoa, resected the large and small left splanchnic nerves of two patients suffering from different arterial diseases. These cases were