Percutaneous Radiofrequency Upper Thoracic Sympathectomy

Between June 1979 and May 1994, I performed 148 unilateral or bilateral sympathectomies on 247 limbs in 110 patients using a percutaneous radiofrequency technique, usually on an outpatient surgery basis. Patient ages ranged from 10 to 81 years, with 45 male and 65 female patients. Four patients had unsuccessfully undergone prior open surgical sympathectomy. Patients suffered from hyperhidrosis, vascular occlusion, Raynaud's disease or other chronic vasculopathies, painful causalgia or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or Prinzmetal's angina. The sympathectomy technique has evolved over this 15-year period and is currently in its third phase. Changes in the procedure were based on anatomic and clinical/radiographic correlations and careful patient follow-up. Current modifications have reduced the frequency of both early and late failures. The present technique (Phase III) relies on neuroleptanalgesia with superficial local anesthesia only and does not require general anesthesia, intubation, or lung collapse. Two 18-gauge radiofrequency TIC needle electrodes (Radionics, Burlington, MA) are used. A series of three lesions is rostrocaudally made at each of the ganglion sites selected in an attempt to destroy the entire fusiform ganglion. Lesion sites are targeted by C-arm fluoroscopy and electrical stimulation, which produces a threshold of sensory awareness of > 1.0 V. Lesion effectiveness is monitored by bilateral finger plethysmography and hand skin temperature measurement. With the Phase III technique, the sympathetic activity in 96% of operated limbs after 2 years and in 91% of operated limbs after 3 years continues to be completely or largely interrupted. By comparison, I achieved similar success in 83 and 72% operated limbs with the Phase I technique and in 77 and 71% with the Phase II technique. Symptomatic pneumothorax, in six patients, has been the only serious complication. When necessary, a subsequent operation can easily be performed and is effective.