[Experience in treatment of Raynaud's syndrome by chemical sympathectomy: 97 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the curative effect in treatment of Raynaud's syndrome with chemical thoracic sympathectomy (CTS) guided by X-ray since 2001.


METHODS
From March 2001 to August 2007, 97 patients with Raynaud's syndrome (186 limbs) were treated by CTS. Guided by X-ray, a needle was punctured through the back skin to the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion beside the thoracic vertebrae and 2 mL of 5% (v/v) phenol was injected.


RESULTS
The first CTS treatment produced a good effect on 146 limbs with an effective rate of 78.5% (146/186). The same treatment was performed on the limbs with no effect 1-2 days after the first treatment and produced good effect on 13 limbs with an effective rate of 32.5% (13/40). The total effective rate of the patients who were hospitalized for the first time was 85.5% (159/186). Of the 97 patients, 78 patients (80.4%) were followed up for 47 months on an average with an effective rate of 69.5%. And the rate of complications was 11.4% for pheumothorax, and 3.9% for hydrothorax. Hyperalgesia on axillary region and anterior chest wall; Horner syndrome and sinus bradycardia were rare.


CONCLUSIONS
CTS is minimally invasive and effective in treatment of Raynaud's syndrome.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. bmucystal@163.com
Jin Tao
JT
Han
Jun
J
Zhao
Yong Guang
YG
Peng
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019800:Phenol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects
D019800:Phenol