"Sympathectomy is a technique about which we have limited knowledge, applied to disorders about which we have little understanding."

Associate Professor Robert Boas, Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australasian College of Anaesthetists and the Royal College of Anaesthetists

http://www.pfizer.no/templates/Page____886.aspx

Sunday, July 29, 2012

It is well recognized that preganglionic sympathectomy involves division of cholinergic elements ad sensory fibers

It is well recognized that preganglionic sympathectomy involves division of cholinergic elements and sensory fibers. 
Theodore Cooper, Department of Surgery, St Louis University School of Medicine 
Pharmacological Reviews, 1966 Vol. 18, No. 1. Part I

Friday, July 27, 2012

When sympathectomized rats were injected with the same carcinogen, 24 out of 38 developed tumors

"Lesions od the sympathetic nervous system have been shown to increase the incidence, induction, and take and growth, of tumors. In neurally intact rats which were infected with a known carcinogen, only 1 out of 30 developed a tumor. When sympathectomized (intentional sympathetic nerve interference) rats were injected with the same carcinogen, 24 out of 38 developed tumors. These results confirm that sympathetic block enhances tumor implantation."
"Clearly the autonomic nervous system in exquisitely sensitive to information from all parts of the nervous system and may affect many aspects of the immune response."
"Since immune response is initiated by the nervous system, this appears to be a likely place to look for the cause of disease."
Edward E. Cremata, Neural control of immunity, January/February, 1982 The Digest of Chiropractic Economics
1. Couhard, R. and P. Hein, Cancers de types divers provoqucs par lesion du sympathique, CR. Acad. Sci,  2434-2437, 1957.
2. Couhard, R. and F. Heitz, Production de tumeurs malìgncs consecutivas a des lesions des fibres sympaxhiqucs du neri sciatique chez le cobaye. CR. Amd. Scl", 244: 4-09-411, 1957. 
3. Nayar, KK., Arthur, E. and Ballís,  M4, Th: transmission of tumours induced in cockroaches by nerve severance, Experienria, 27: 183, 1971. 
4. Champy, C.. Lesions neum-sympathìques precedam la canccrixation dans Patlaque de Porganìsmc par les substances cancerîgenes, C.R. Acad. Sci, 248: 3665-1666; 1959. 

The alpha-adrenergic sensitivity of smooth muscle following sympathectomy

The data obtained suggest alteration of pharmacological characteristics of smooth muscle alpha-adrenoceptors after interruption of the sympathetic nerve.
Fiziol Zh SSSR Im I M Sechenova. 1988 Sep;74(9):1287-93.

blockade of sympathetic nerves - Trigeminal Substance P Neurons in Cluster Headache

A comparison is made with the present opinion on activation of parasympathetic and blockade of sympathetic nerves to explain the various symptoms of a cluster attack.
The Involvement of Trigeminal Substance P Neurons in Cluster Headache. An Hypothesis
Jan Erik Hardebo , M.D.
From the Department of Neurology and Department of Histology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.
Volume 24 Issue 6, Pages 294 - 304
Published Online: 22 Jun 2005

Norepinephrine activates pain pathways after nerve injury

According to MedicineNet, RSD involves "irritation and abnormal excitation of nervous tissue, leading to abnormal impulses along nerves that affect blood vessels and skin."
Animal studies indicate that norepinephrine, a catecholamine released from sympathetic nerves, acquires the capacity to activate pain pathways after tissue or nerve injury, resulting in RSD.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Anthem medical policy for ETS surgery

  • Presence of medical complications or skin maceration with secondary infection; or
  • Significant functional impairment, as documented in the medical record.
Botulinum toxin is considered medically necessary in the treatment of secondary hyperhidrosis when the condition is related to surgical complications and both of the following criteria are met:
  • Presence of medical complications or skin maceration with secondary infection; and
  • Significant functional impairment, as documented in the medical record.
Treatment of primary axillary or palmar hyperhidrosis with endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is consideredmedically necessary in the small subset of individuals with hyperhidrosis where both of the following criteria (1 and 2) have been met:
  1. It has been adequately documented that all efforts at nonsurgical therapy have failed; and
  2. Either of the following:
    • Presence of medical complications or skin maceration with secondary infection; or
    • Significant functional impairment, as documented in the medical records;
http://www.anthem.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a050005.htm

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

"sympathectomy of one side of the body leads to an increase in the development of tumors on the denervated side"

Coujard R, Heitz F. Cancerologic: Production de tumeurs malignes consecutives a des lesions des fibres sympathiques du nerf sciatique chez le Cobaye. C R Acad Sci 1957; 244: 409­411.


This suggest that interference with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) can lead to a compromise of the body's immune system [81–82]. Conversely, an immunological response can alter the response pattern of the sympathetic nervous system. [83]
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/FULL/VERTEBRAL_SUBLUXATION_2.shtml