[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.
Han
Jin Tao
JT
Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. bmucystal@163.com
Zhao
Jun
J
Peng
Yong Guang
YG
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