CT-guided thoracal sympathicolysis for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic thoracal pain syndromes in 6 patients.

Purpose: Retrospective evaluation of, the safety and effectivity of CT-guid ed percutaneous thoracal sympathicolysis (CT-TSL) in the treatment of patie nts with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) of the upper limb and chronic thoracal pain syndromes. Comparison of our own experience with lit erature reports. Material and Methods: Between 6/96 and 12/99, 4 patients w ith PAOD of the upper limb and two with chronic thoracal pain syndromes cau sed by herpes zoster were treated by unilateral CT-TSL. Results: 18, 21 and 32 months after the intervention 3 out of 4 patients treated for PAOD repo rted subjective improvements, and one remained unchanged. Two patients trea ted for pain syndromes showed no long-term benefit of the procedure. There were no serious complications. Conclusion: The CT-TSL is an alternative met hod in the treatment of PAOD in patients who are unsuitable for treatment b y revascularization.