The amount of compensatory sweating depends on the patient, the damage that the white rami communicans incurs, and the amount of cell body reorganization in the spinal cord after surgery.
Other potential complications include inadequate resection of the ganglia, gustatory sweating, pneumothorax, cardiac dysfunction, post-operative pain, and finally Horner’s syndrome secondary to resection of the stellate ganglion.
www.ubcmj.com/pdf/ubcmj_2_1_2010_24-29.pdf

After severing the cervical sympathetic trunk, the cells of the cervical sympathetic ganglion undergo transneuronic degeneration
After severing the sympathetic trunk, the cells of its origin undergo complete disintegration within a year.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0442.1967.tb00255.x/abstract

Monday, October 4, 2010

Changes in hemodynamics of the carotid and middle cerebral arteries before and after endoscopic sympathectomy in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis

There was a significant reduction in diastolic pressure after T-2 sympathectomy (p = 0.003), but not in systolic pressure or heart rate. The vessel diameter was increased after sympathectomy in the left CAs and right CCA. The T-2 sympathectomy led to significant elevation of blood flow volume and Rl in the left CCA. ICA, and ECA (p < 0.05). The authors found significant increases in maximum flow velocity and RI in the left MCA (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Patients who underwent T-2 sympathectomy demonstrated a significant increase in blood flow volume and flow velocities of the CAs and MCA, especially on the left side. Asymmetry of sympathetic influence on the hemodynamics of the CAs and MCA was noted.
Journal of neurosurgery
1999, vol. 90, no3, pp. 463-467 (38 ref.)