Histopathological examination of chemo-sympathectomy in cats

In recent decades, there has been an increase in both the number of sympathectomy techniques, as well as the surgical findings of sympathetic anatomy. Currently the advanced technique of C-arm guided percutaneous thoracic chemo-sympathectomy is widely used for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. However, a better understanding of chemical agents in sympathectomy is required. In this study, chemo-sympathectomy was performed in cats, using alcohol, glycerol and various concentrations of phenol, to determine the chronic neurotoxic effects of these chemical agents on the stellate ganglia. The stellate ganglia of 24 cats were exposed under endotracheal general anesthesia, then injected with about 0.02 ml of absolute alcohol, glycerol and phenol (10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% concentration) solutions, respectively. The stellate ganglia were taken for histological examination three weeks after the chemical injection. The results showed that the degenerative changes in the cytoplasm and nucleus of ganglionic cells and intercellular tissue were moderate and relatively moderate after the injection of alcohol and glycerol, respectively. Meanwhile, the stellate ganglia revealed mild, relatively moderate, serious and extremely serious degeneration after injection of 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% phenol, respectively. In conclusion, we recommend a high concentration of phenol, in the least volume, as a chemical agent for clinical injection in the upper thoracic sympathetic ganglion.