Sympathectomy: quo vadis?

This paper reviews the evolution of sympathectomy in the management of vascular disease, hyperhidrosis and reflex sympathetic dystrophy over the past 26 years. The average general surgery resident has never been exposed to the procedure. The author feels that sympathectomy should be part of the armamentarium of vascular surgeons. An understanding of physiologic screening tests is necessary for the proper selection of patients who may benefit from sympathectomy. There has been a progressive decline in the number of publications on sympathectomy during this period. While the procedure is less commonly performed for vascular disease, sympathectomy remains a useful treatment for uncontrolled hyperhidrosis and for reflex sympathetic dystrophy.