How to Prevent, Reduce, and Treat Severe Post Sympathetic Chain Compensatory Hyperhidrosis: 2021 State of the Art

The role of thoracic surgery in the management of hyperhidrosis is well-known and thoracoscopic sympathetic interruption is commonly accepted as being the most effective treatment. However, some concerns still remain regarding the potential to develop compensatory hyperidrosis (CH), the most troublesome and frequent side effect after surgery and its management. Compensatory hyperidrosis prevention may be achieved by identifying subjects at higher risk and/or targeting nerve interruption level on the base of single patient characteristics gathered during the preoperative survey. Furthermore, the surgical treatment may consist of different techniques aimed at reversing the effects of previous sympathetic interruption. To predict CH after sympathectomy, the most interesting proposals in recent literature are a temporary thoracoscopic sympathetic block and the introduction of new and targeted preoperative surveys. If the role of nerve clipping technique vs. the definitive cutting is still intensely under debated, new approaches have been recently proposed to reduce the incidence of CH. In particular, extended sympathicotomy has been described as an alternative to overcome severe forms. Last, among the techniques developed to reverse sympathetic interruption effect, diffuse sympathicotomy (DS) and microsurgical sympathetic trunk reconstruction represent advances in this field. An all-round review of these topics is strongly needed. Our aim is to cover all the above issues point by point. Although sympathectomy represents a small part of thoracic surgery, we believe that it is worthy of interest because of the profound effect that complications for a benign condition can have on patients.

EFFECTIVENESS OF LUMBAR SYMPATHETIC BLOCK IN PATIENTS OF CHRONIC LEG PAIN PRESENTED TO PAIN CLINIC AT A TERTIARY GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL OVER PAST TWO-YEARS: A RETROSPECTIVE AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.

Background:Lumbar sympathetic block is used in inoperable peripheral vascular disease. The block acts as a vasodilator by decreasing sympathetic tone and improves tissue oxygenation and helps in ulcer healing. No guidelines exist till date for its use in patients with chronic leg pain and ulcers. The management of patients with unreconstructable distal disease with rest pain has always been difficult. Lumbar sympathetic block helps to abolish this rest pain. Aims and Objectives: 1. To study the effectiveness of lumbar sympathetic block 2. To study the ideal level for needle insertion for 100% success rate. 3. To follow up the patients for 1 week, 4 weeks and 12 weeks for relief of symptoms. 4. To study the safety of the block and note the complications. Materials and Methods: After approval of ethical committee, this retrospective study was conducted from Pain Clinic Records over the past two years. Total number of patients studied were 30 over past 2 years. Data Collection: Demographic Data and VAS score was recorded Preblock walking distance was recorded. CT guided lumbar sympathetic block was given. Results and Conclusion: Lumbar sympathetic block was very useful, safe and effective method to decrease the rest pain in patients presented to pain OPD of our hospital. Follow up for 3 months showed healing of ulcers in some of these patients.

Response of unilateral spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients admitted to BMC & Allied Teaching Hospital in District BANNU-KPK.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the possible restriction effects of unilateral spinal anaesthesia on sympathetic block to evade unwanted cardiac effects in elderly patients. Study Design: Cross section study. Setting: Department of Surgery, BMC Allied Teaching Hospitals District Bannu-KPK. Period: June 2018 to January 2020. Material & Methods: In this study, 30 ASA III and ASA IV male adults having an age 55-65 and receiving lower limb surgery were included. The patients were given unilateral spinal anaesthesia (using 0.5% Bupivacaine). All the subjects were maintained in a lateral position having their operated side downwards and were kept in position for a period of 15 minutes. The assessment of the sensory and motor nerves was done, and hemodynamic changes were recorded following spinal anaesthesia. The monitoring was done for half an hour. Results: The observed hemodynamic effects in elderly patients were minimum which demonstrated the effectiveness of unilateral spinal anaesthesia in limiting the sympathetic block, evading the unwanted cardiac effects thus providing high cardiovascular stability. It was observed that the preparation time required for unilateral spinal anaesthesia was a bit longer as compared to conventional method. The technique also proved to be acceptable for patients with an elevated autonomy following surgical procedure and lesser urine retention. Conclusion: When unilateral spinal anaesthesia was administered in admitted patients using lower flow injection method and low volume, stable hemodynamic results were achieved. Patients were more satisfactory. Thus, unilateral spinal anaesthesia is effective in limiting the sympathetic block in old age patients.