Number of sympathectomies is on the increase in Australia

Number of ETS procedures performed in Australia between 2000 - 2010
source: aihw.gov.au

years 2000 - 2001:
lumbar sympathectomy (LS) 257
cervical sympathectomy (CS) 140
thoracic sympathectomy (TS) 575
other surgical sympathectomy (OSS) 44
re-sympathectomy (RS) 34
Total: 1034

years 2001-2002:
LS   202
CS   178
TS 1129
OS 61
RS 52
Total: 1575

years 2002 - 2003
LS 176
CS 132
TS 859
OS 37
RS 30
Total: 1228

years 2003 - 2004
LS 169
CS 135
TS   804
OS 57
RS 37
Total: 1193

years 2004 - 2005
LS 125
CS 85
TS 773
new: sacral surgical sympathectomy (SSS) 24
OS 476
RS 32
Total: 1483

years 2005 - 2006
LS 116
CS 101
TS 616
SSS   4
OS   521
RS    24
Total:1358

years 2006 - 2007
LS   71
CS   71
TS   519
OS   307
RS   25
Total: 972

years 2007 - 2008
LS   60
CS 71
TS   428
OS   286
RS   22
Total: 850

years 2008 - 2009
CS   63
TS    490
OS    315
RS    23
Total: 891

years 2009 - 2010
CS    65
TS    683
OS    311
RS    24
Total: 1083

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sympathectomy affects the heart, sweating, and circulation

heart rate was significantly reduced at rest (14%), at sub-maximal exercise (12.3%), and at peak exercise (5.7%), together with a significant increase in oxygen pulse (11.8, 12.7, and 7.8%, respectively). The rate pressure product (RPP) was also significantly reduced following the surgical procedure at all three study stages, while all other physiological variables measured remained unchanged. It is suggested that thoracic-sympathetic denervation affects the heart, sweating, and circulation of the respective denervated region

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Sep;104(1):79-86. Epub 2008 Jun 10.

Acquired cardiovascular disease following Sympathectomy

We found statistically significant differences (P < .05) in both time and frequency domains. Parameters that evaluate global cardiac autonomic activity (total power, SD of normal R-R intervals, SD of average normal R-R intervals) and vagal activity (rhythm corresponding to percentage of normal R-R intervals with cycle greater than 50 ms relative to previous interval, square root of mean squared differences of successive normal R-R intervals, high-frequency power, high-frequency power in normalized units) were statistically significantly increased after sympathectomy. Low-frequency power in normalized units, reflecting sympathetic activity, was statistically significantly decreased after sympathectomy. Low-/high-frequency power ratio also showed a significant decrease, indicating relative decrease in sympathetic activity and increase in vagal activity.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume 137, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 664-669

Surgical and chemical sympathectomy can alter cellular proliferation

Surgical denervation and chemical sympathectomy can alter cellular proliferation, B- and T-cell responsiveness and lymphocyte migration in lymphoid organs [17].

In vitro studies have shown that neuropeptides can have numerous effects, either inhibiting or stimulating the proliferation, differentiation and functions of immune cells [19]* Development of systemic lupus erythematosus in mice is associated with alteration of neuropeptide concentrations in inﬂamed kidneys and immunoregulatory organs

Neuroscience Letters 248 (1998) 97– 100

Sympathectomy results in significant interference of regulatory processes of the body

"ESB (whether as ETS as ETSC or ELS) generally represents a substantial interference in regulatory processes of the body. Therefore decision for this operation requires that previously conservative treatments were made. An ESB is therefore at the end of a treatment history, and never at the beginning."

Dr. Christoph H. Schick, ETS surgeon, President of the International Society of Sympathetic Surgery (ISSS)

text has been translated by google from German

http://www.dhhz.de/index.php?page=8&subPage=&section=32

DYNAMIC CEREBRAL AUTOREGULATION IS ALTERED BY GANGLION BLOCKADE

After ganglion blockade, systolic and pulse pressure decreased significantly by 13% and 26%, respectively. CBF velocity decreased by 6% (P <0.05). In the very low frequency range (0.02 to 0.07 Hz), mean blood pressure variability decreased significantly (by 82%), while CBF velocity variability persisted. Thus, transfer function gain increased by 81%. In addition, the phase lead of CBF velocity to arterial pressure diminished. These changes in transfer function gain and phase persisted despite restoration of arterial pressure by infusion of phenylephrine and normalization of mean blood pressure variability by oscillatory lower body negative pressure.

Conclusions-: These data suggest that dynamic cerebral autoregulation is altered by ganglion blockade. We speculate that autonomic neural control of the cerebral circulation is tonically active and likely plays a significant role in the regulation of beat-to-beat CBF in humans.

Circulation. 106(14):1814-1820, October 1, 2002.

Muliptle organ failure as a consequence of elective sympathectomy

In the post-sympathectomy patient, the abnormalsympathetic skin response may lead to peripheral vascular failureor the reduced cardiac chronotropic response may impair thebody’s capacity to compensate for shock. These may havecontributed to the rapid development of shock and severe multipleorgan dysfunction syndrome in this patient.
He had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome develop, with severerenal and hepatic failure, grade II hepatic encephalopathy,and disseminated intravascular coagulation. He responded remarkablywell to aggressive supportive measures including forced alkalinediuresis, and he was eventually discharged home after 1 month. The patient was previously a healthy, physically fit, nonsmoker.He worked as a body building trainer and led an active, sportylifestyle. The only significant medical history was that hehad received thoracic sympathectomy for axillary hyperhidrosis4 years ago at another hospital.

http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/84/3/1025

SYMPATHECTOMY MAY CONSTITUTE MALPRACTICE

Referring an anxious patient with palmar hyperhidrosis to surgery may constitute malpractice

"A surgical treatment for anxiety-triggered palmar hyperhidrosis is not unlike treating tearfulness in major depression by severing the nerves to the lacrimal glands."

"Referring an anxious patient with palmar hyperhidrosis to surgery without first completing a proper trial of psychotropic medication may constitute malpracticeespecially if the patient experiences some of the more severe surgical complications which can occur during sympathectomy" (Bracha et al. 2006 .

Br J Dermatol. 2006 Dec;155(6):1299-300.

Neuroma following nerve injury/surgery

When a nerve is cut, the piece of nerve that is beyond the cut point eventually dies, however, its Schwann cells, the cells that encircle the nerve fibers remain for a much longer time. These Schwann cells secrete a chemical messenger known as nerve growth factor that tells the cut end of nerve where to grow back. So the cut end of nerve will send out multiple sprouts in the direction of the nerve growth factor, however, these sprouts do not go out in an orderly manner, instead they grow out in all directions and eventually cluster and form a knot of nerve fibers. This eventually leads to the formation of a TRUE neuroma or a END BULB or STUMP neuroma.

www.tarsaltunnelcenter.com/assets/recurrent.shtml

our ignorance of the mechanisms of primary hyperhidrosis and of the effect of sympathetic ablation

Segmental myoclonus was associated with thoracic sympathectomy

Spinal myoclonus was associated with laminectomy, remote effect of cancer, spinal cord injury, post-operative pseudomeningocele, laparotomy, thoracic sympathectomy, poliomyelitis, herpes myelitis, lumbosacral radiculopathy, spinal extradural block, and myelopathy due to demyelination, electrical injury, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and cervical spondylosis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3753263

Spinal myoclonus is typically associated with a localized area of damaged tissue (focal lesion). The injured area may include direct damage of the spinal cord or may cause abnormal changes in the function of the spinal cord.

http://www.wemove.org/myo/myo_pc.html

Spinal myoclonus following a peripheral nerve injury: a case report

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2526081/

autonomy is fundamentally inadequate in healthcare settings

Informed consent is one of the foundations of bioethical discourse. Bureaucrats have forced doctors and researchers to fill out endless forms in the belief that informed consent will enhance patients’ autonomy.

However, questions are being asked about whether this business of informed consent is really working. In an early online article in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Neil Levy, the Australian editor of another journal, Neuroethics, argues that bioethicists need to rethink informed consent.

Why? Because the lesson of all of modern psychology and of post-modern philosophy is that our rationality is terribly flawed. We are blind to the future consequences of our actions; we are not objective in assessing claims that touch us personally; we overestimate the effects of setbacks on our well-being; we are unreliable in estimating how bad or how good events made us feel. In short, human reasoning is subject to many fallibilities.

Somewhat surprisingly, Arthur Caplan, of the University of Pennsylvania, probably the best-known bioethicist in the US, agrees with Levy. In a companion article, he says:

“autonomy is fundamentally inadequate in healthcare settings and requires supplementation by experience-based paternalism on the part of doctors and healthcare providers…

“A large number of studies have shown that huge percentages of people who give their informed consent to treatment or to their involvement in research do not really understand what they have chosen. Autonomy lives with hope and hope, in the form of the therapeutic misconception, often trumps autonomy.”

Questioning informed consent shakes a pillar of modern bioethics and the call for more benevolent paternalism is sure to face stiff opposition.

http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/9979#comments

disparity between what is known in practice and what appears in the literature

The March 2004 edition was quite outstanding, with an excellent editorial reminding the reader that only good results are published. The review on thoracoscopic sympathectomy highlighted the disparity between what is known in practice and what appears in the literature.

‘Know Your Results’, the topic of the ASGBI Annual Scientific Meeting, is of outstanding importance; what is more, the surgeon has to go on knowing his/her results to ensure standards of practice do not slip.

The Journal appreciates comments and criticism and the correspondence column remains a crucial part of the BJS in its interaction between editors and reader. It is also part of the scientific process.

A more robust and incisive criticism of articles known to be flawed would prevent the retractions that have recently been published in the Lancet.

Christopher Russell, Chairman, BJS Society

Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, ANNUAL REPORT 2004

The courts have become the sole policing body for the medical profession

Major lawsuits, with the major judgments that go with them, may not completely keep negligent physicians from practicing, but they are the one way that currently exists to deter these individuals from practicing their inept brand of medicine. "

Over the years, we have given a lot of thought to why the medical profession adheres to this code of silence. What is it about this profession that causes it to protect its own at the expense of the public?"

Harvey F. Wachsman: Lethal Medicine

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co

ignorance of the mechanisms for primary hyperhidrosis and of the effect of sympathetic ablation

"These observations further emphasize our ignorance of the mechanisms responsible for primary hyperhidrosis and of the effect of sympathetic ablation on the function of the remaining sympathetic system."

"Only investigators who deviate from accepted standards innovate and thus advance science. Obviously, such deviations may also result in disasters;"

Statement made by the former President of the International Society of Sympathetic Surgery, and ETS surgeon, Moshe Hashmonai (Invited Commentary) Endoscopic Lumbar Sympathectomy Following Thoracic Sympathectomy in Patients with Palmoplantar Hyperhidrosis World J Surg (2011) 35:54–55 DOI 10.1007/s00268-010-0809-5