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, April 22, 2012

Patients should be shown images to realize just how bad 'compensatory sweating' can be

The consequence of sympathectomy, the 'cure' for sweaty palms is a full body hyperhidrosis. The term 'compensatory sweating' is clearly misleading.
Top arrow shows area where the body lost its ability to sweat (Anhidrosis)
Middle arrow shows are of 'demarcation line' between Anhidrosis and Hyperhidrosis
Bottom arrow shows area below the injury to the sympathetic chain (sympathectomy) which results in pathological autonomic function. Similar condition is seen in people with Diabetic Neuropathy and following spinal cord injury.