RETROPERITONEAL LAPAROSCOPIC LUMBAR SYMPATHECTOMY

Abstract

Lumbar sympathectomy retains a role in the treatment of patients with causalgia, symptomatic vasospasm, and non-reconstructable arterial occlusive disease. Open surgical sympathectomy, with its attendant morbidities, remains the standard. Chemical sympathectomy has been introduced as a less invasive means of achieving sympatholysis. However, this has been associated with incomplete and transient denervation. We present a series of ten lumber sympathectomies performed by retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach. All patients sustained symptomatic relief and no postoperative complications were ?oted. We conclude that lumbar sympathectomy. can be performed laparoscopically. The extraperitoneal approach. Combines the durability and reliability of standard open sympathectomy with the minimal invasiveness of laparoscopic surgery.