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

Sunday, February 13, 2011

a strong association of autonomic dysfunction and impaired cerebral autoregulation

Furthermore, we found a strong association of autonomic dysfunction and impaired autoregulation indicated by a correlation between the LF/HF ratio and Sx (p < 0.001).

Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 110, Issue 3, 1 August 2010, Pages 240-246

51% of the participants claimed that their quality of life decreased moderately or severely after sympathectomy

Pediatr Surg Int. 2008 Mar;24(3):343-7. Epub 2007 Nov 13.

Conditions arising after Sympathectomy

After stellate ganglion blockade: HORNER'S SYNDROME

  • Drooping eyelid
  • Constricted pupil (impaired vision in low light)
  • Absent/reduced sweating one side of the face and head
  • Redness of eyes
  • Facial flushing

After regional sympathectomy: DUMPING SYNDROME:

  • Rapid emptying of the stomach: lower end of small intestine fills too quickly
  • Early dumping: nausea/vomiting/bloating/diarrhoea/shortness of breath
  • Late dumping: 1-3 hours after eating: weakness/sweating/dizziness
  • Both types may co-exist.
http://www.theaword.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=223:conditions-arising-after-sympathectomy&catid=84:the-sympathetic-nervous-system&Itemid=41