title: Laparoscopic lumbar sympathectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbar sympathectomy retains a role in the treatment of patients with causalgia, Symptomatic vasospasm, and nonreconstructable arterial occlusive disease. Open surgical sympathectomy, with its attendant morbidities, remains the standard. Chemical sympathectomy has been introduced as a less invasive means of achieving sympatholysis. However, this has been associated with incomplete and transient denervation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a series of five lumbar sympathectomies performed laparoscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients sustained symptomatic relief and no postoperative complications were noted. Postoperative skin thermometry and resistance measurements confirmed adequacy of sympatholysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that lumbar sympathectomy can be performed laparoscopically. Our preferred technique is now the extraperitoneal approach. Such an approach combines the durability and reliability of standard open sympathectomy with the minimal invasiveness of laparoscopic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1510 San Pablo Street, Suite 514, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kathouda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wattanasirichaigoon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yassini
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ngaorungsri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002422:Causalgia / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*