[The irrigraphic profile, an orienting element in the indications for lumbar sympathectomy]

A retrospective study of 108 case-reports of patients treated by lumbar sympathectomy was conducted to determine irrigraphic parameters possessing possible predictive value for the indication of sympathectomy. The value of the Index 6 (distal irrigation index) must be certainly taken into account; the Index 1 (proximal index) appears to be of interest when analyzing data with a view to sympathectomy in diffuse forms of arteritis. Three profile-types were distinguished; statistical analysis showed no significant difference in these profiles, with respect to the sympathectomy, in relation to the clinical results obtained. Irrigraphic modifications after sympathectomy were analyzed in 72 cases; results confirmed the improved efficacy of sympathectomy at Stage 2 than at Stages 3 and 4, but also showed that at Stage 2 the profile II appeared to react more favorably and that at Stages 3 and 4 the profile I appears to react less well than the other profiles. Also studied were patients with diabetes, who react less favorably to sympathectomy, patients who fail-to respond to sympathectomy, and those with worsening of irrigraphic profiles after sympathectomy, mainly in diabetics with profile I. These findings show that it is not possible to define a precise irrigraphic profile more favorable to sympathectomy, but that they provide interesting elements to be confronted with clinical and arteriographic data when deciding on the need for sympathectomy.