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
Number of sympathectomies is on the increase in Australia - the power of medical advertising
years 2000 - 2001:
Total: 1034
years 2001-2002:
Total: 1575
years 2002 - 2003
Total: 1228
years 2003 - 2004
Total: 1193
years 2004 - 2005
Total: 1483
years 2005 - 2006
Total:1358
years 2006 - 2007
Total: 972
years 2007 - 2008
Total: 850
years 2008 - 2009
Total: 891
years 2009 - 2010
Total: 1083
source: aihw.gov.au