SHORT COMMUNICATION - DISTAL ADRENERGIC-INNERVATION REMAINS NORMAL AFTER PERIVASCULAR SYMPATHECTOMY

Perivascular sympathectomy, which has been used for vasospastic disord ers of the hands, was examined in experimental models. Perivascular sy mpathectomy was performed on the central ear vessels and forepaw metac arpal vessels of the rabbit and on the common digital vessels in the m onkey. The effects on adrenergic nerves were studied using a glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence method. Adrenergic nerves were removed only at the site of the perivascular sympathectomy and the distal adrenerg ic innervation appeared normal. Because the distal sympathetic nerves appeared normal after the operation, it should rather be called advent itectomy and we feel its clinical effects should be reevaluated. (C) W iley-Liss, Inc.