Extended Peripheral Periarterial Sympathectomy in Chronic Digital Ischemia

Abstract

Introduction In patients with chronic digital ischemia who do not respond to medical treatment, endoscopic cervical sympathectomy has its place but may be associated with postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis. Peripheral or digital sympathectomy is technically less demanding and involves fewer complications than central or cervical sympathectomy.

Objective Evaluate the effects of extended peripheral periarterial sympathectomy in patients with chronic distal ischemia, refractory to medical treatment; and compare these results with the different reports in the literature.

Materials and Methods Retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study of a series of 14 patients treated between 2005 and 2021, who underwent extended peripheral arterial sympathectomy.

Results 11 women and 3 men with an average age of 48 years (28-63). In 11 of the 14 cases, an improvement and/or decrease in the number of ulcerated lesions was observed, and in all cases, an evident decrease in pain was observed from the first postoperative day.

Conclusions Extended peripheral periarterial sympathectomy improves and/or stops chronic digital ischemia lesions.

Keywords

Chronic Digital Ischemia - Cervical sympathectomy - Extended Peripheral Periarterial Sympathectomy

Authors' contributions

The authors Caloia Martin and Ronconi Sergio participated similarly in the writing of the work. The author Caloia Hugo is credited with mentoring and collaborating in the correction of the manuscript. Drs Sofía Fernández and Mariana Muñoz participated in the field work collecting patient data and images.

Publication History

Received: 25 April 2023

Accepted: 06 September 2024

Article published online:
23 December 2024

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