[Experience in treatment of Raynaud's syndrome by chemical thoracic sympathectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the experience in treatment of Raynaud's syndrome with chemical thoracic sympathectomy (CTS) guided by X ray.


METHODS
From March 2001 to December 2002,35 cases (66 limbs) of Raynaud's syndrome were treated by CTS. Guided by X ray, a needle was punctured through the back skin to the second or third thoracic sympathetic ganglion beside the thoracic vertebrae and 2 ml of 5% phenol was injected.


RESULTS
The first CTS treatment produced an excellent effect on 32 limbs, good effect on 12 limbs, and no effect on 22 limbs with an effective rate of 66.7% (44/66). The same treatment was performed on the limbs without effect 1 - 2 days after the first treatment and produce excellent effect on 2 limbs, good effect on 6 limbs, and no effect on 14 limbs with an effective rate of 36.4% (8/22). The efficiency rate of the first hospitalization was 78.8%. The effective rate of treating primary Raynaud's disease by CTS was 88.5% and that of treating secondary one was 42.8%. 85% of the patients were followed up for 9 months on average with an efficiency rate of 61%.


CONCLUSIONS
CTS is mini-invasive, cheap, easy to popularize, and a relatively ideal choice in treatment of Raynaud's syndrome. Complications can be minimum only if the operation is performed carefully.
Zhao
Jun
J
Department of vascular surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China.
Dong
Guo-xiang
GX
Luan
Jing-yuan
JY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects