An operation in which the ganglia (nerve terminals) of sympathetic nerves are destroyed to interrupt the nerve pathway. This may be performed to improve blood supply to a limb (as a treatment for peripheral vascular disease) or to relieve chronic pain, for example causalgia.
n. the surgical *division of sympathetic nerve fibres. It is done to minimize the effects of normal or excessive sympathetic activity. Most often it is used to improve the circulation to part of the body; less commonly to inhibit excess sweating or to relieve the *photophobia induced by an abnormally dilated pupil of the eye.
Destruction of the LUMBAR chain of sympathetic nerves (see NERVOUS SYSTEM) by means of surgery, DIATHERMY or injection of chemicals (phenol or alcohol). The technique is used to improve the blood ?ow to the leg in patients with peripheral vascular disease, and to treat some types of chronic leg pain. It has only limited success.... lumbar sympathectomy
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