Sympathetic blocks

The results of permanent chemical block of the lumbar symmpathetic chain in patients with inoperable vascular conditions, treated during the three-year period 1973--1975 is presented. The results show that, when unsuitable patients have been rejected by their poor response to continuous local aneasthetic blocks, good results with permanent phenol blocks are attainable. These are mainly in patients whose presenting symptom is pain at rest. The complication-rate was low.