Sympathectomy

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Sympathectomy

Sympathectomy (pronunciation: sim-puh-THEK-tuh-mee) is a surgical procedure that involves the removal or destruction of a portion of the sympathetic nervous system.

Etymology

The term "sympathectomy" is derived from the Greek words "sympatheia" meaning "fellow feeling" and "ektome" meaning "excision".

Procedure

Sympathectomy is typically performed to reduce pain or to decrease excessive sweating. The procedure involves cutting or clamping the sympathetic chain, a bundle of nerve fibers that run along the spinal column. This interrupts the transmission of nerve signals that control various bodily functions such as sweating, blood flow, and heart rate.

Types

There are several types of sympathectomy procedures, including:

Risks and Complications

Like all surgical procedures, sympathectomy carries some risks. These may include infection, bleeding, and damage to surrounding tissues. In addition, sympathectomy can sometimes result in compensatory sweating, where the body sweats more in other areas to compensate for the loss of sweating in the treated area.

Related Terms

External links

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