Complications
The most common side effect of sympathectomy surgery. It occurs in the majority of patients.
It involves sweating from truncal areas including back, chest, front, and thighs.
On rare occasions, it is even worse than the initial condition.
It appears to be least bothersome for the palmoplantar cases and more bothersome for axillary and craniofacial cases.
Less frequently, craniofacial gustatory sweating may occur.
It is crucial to have a frank discussion of this side effect with patients preoperatively to allow them to weigh the benefit of surgery against the risk.[14][33][34][66]
A rare complication resulting from massive (supraclinical) amounts of topical aluminium chloride used long term. Transcutaneous aluminium toxicity may be more clinically relevant in high-risk patients such as older patients with renal failure.[11]
Aggressive subcutaneous gland excision of the axilla may devitalise the epidermis, leading to local skin complications.[14]
This rare complication can follow sympathectomy surgery and occurs when the surgery is too close to the stellate ganglion or from electrocautery transmission up the sympathetic chain. It results in ptosis and miosis. It may be temporary or permanent.[14]
Can occur following sympathectomy surgery; however, it is infrequent.
Can occur following sympathectomy surgery; however, it is infrequent.
Can occur following sympathectomy surgery. Local chest wall paraesthesia may occur rarely from subcutaneous nerve or intercostal nerve impingement. Arm paraesthesia may temporarily occur if somatic nerves lateral to the high sympathetic chain are irritated.[66]
Cutaneous infections, such as tinea pedis and verruca vulgaris can occur, as well as skin maceration and dermatitis of the involved areas.[67]
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