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

Saturday, May 14, 2011

a significant impairment of the heart rate to workload relationship was consistently observed following sympathectomy

Several reports also demonstrate significantly lower heart rate increases during exercise in subjects who have undergone bilateral ISS [912] compared to pre-surgical levels. In spite of this high occurrence, recent reviews on the usual collateral effects of thoracic sympathectomy still do not include these possible cardiac consequences [6].
The aim of the present prospective study was to confirm that
a significant impairment of the heart rate to workload relationship was consistently observed following unilateral and/or bilateral surgery.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg
2001;20:1095-1100
http://ejcts.ctsnetjourna...i/content/full/20/6/1095

All possible side effects should be dealt with and written informed consent required

Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy by electrocautery is an irreversible procedure. Thus the indications must be meticulously considered before the final decision to operate is taken by both the surgeon and the patient. All possible side effects should be dealt with and written informed consent required.

http://www3.interscience....ct?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Published Online: 2 Dec 2003
Copyright © 2002 Taylor and Francis Ltd