[Thoracoscopic splanchnic sympathectomy in pancreatic diseases]

Thoracoscopic splanchnicsympathectomy (TSSE) was performed in 8 patients with inoperable tumors of the corpus and tail of the pancreas and in 3 patients with painful syndrome of chronic pancreatitis. Severe painful syndrome in the upper abdominal region was the main indication for ISSE. Thoracoscopic resection of the lower thoracic sympathetic ganglia and splanchnic nerves was performed. Postoperative complications were detected in 3 patients: in one case it was pneumothorax, in two--pains in the thorax due to the injury of intercostal nerve by thoracoport. There were no lethal outcomes accounted for surgical procedure. The effectiveness of the operation was evaluated by the use of descriptive and visual analogue scales of pain sensitiveness and changes of the amplitude of somatosensor provoked potentials of the brain. Favourable and satisfactory results were obtained in 9 cases.