Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Plasticity of Sympathetic Neurons
Published on: July 5, 2024
Compensatory sweating after restricting or lowering the level of sympathectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Song-Wang Cai1, Ning Shen2, Dong-Xia Li3
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Objective:
To compare compensatory sweating after lowering or restricting the level of sympathectomy.
Method:
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of all randomized controlled trials published in English that compared compensatory sweating after lowering or restricting the level of sympathectomy. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio method was used for the meta-analysis.
Results:
A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included, including a total of 1079 patients. Five of the randomized controlled trials studied restricting the level of sympathectomy, and the remaining six studied lowering the level of sympathectomy.
Conclusions:
The compiled randomized controlled trial results published so far in the literature do not support the claims that lowering or restricting the level of sympathetic ablation results in less compensatory sweating.
Related Concept Videos
Sympathetic Activation
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Sweat Glands
Sweat glands are classified as merocrine glands; that is, the secretions are excreted by exocytosis through a duct without affecting the cells of the gland. There...
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above...
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's...
Somatosensation

