Combined mechanical and chemical sympathectomy for refractory complicated Raynaud's phenomenon: an international...

Secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD) frequently presents as critical digital ischemia refractory to standard protocols. This review describes the clinical feasibility of a combined approach involving mechanical (surgical adventitial stripping) and chemical (Botulinum Toxin Type A [BTX-A] and/or prostanoid analogues) sympathectomy. We retrospectively reviewed four patients from tertiary centers in Mexico and Argentina presenting with severe refractory RP. Interventions involved periarterial digital sympathectomy augmented by intradigital BTX-A and/or intravenous (IV) prostanoids. Longitudinal clinical observations were recorded regarding pain reduction using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), digital ulcer healing, and vascular imaging. Clinical remission was achieved in 3/4 patients. Case one healed a 0.5 cm necrotic lesion following bilateral stripping and 80 IU BTX-A. Case two, achieved complete tissue stabilization at 16-month follow-up; intraoperative angiography confirmed the immediate restoration of digital arch perfusion post-intervention. Case three, presented with a "late" capillaroscopy pattern, maintained a 60-month ulcer-free interval using 80 IU BTX-A and Alprostadil. Case four involved 8/10 ischemic digits; the course was complicated by a radial artery thrombosis requiring a radio-radial venous graft bypass. This patient suffered a relapse with three new distal ulcers immediately following an administrative gap in Bosentan therapy. These hypothesis-generating findings suggest that multimodal sympathectomy is a feasible adjunctive strategy for limb salvage in refractory complicated secondary RP. Current literature enforces these findings supporting the notion for standardized dosing and stepwise approach for future research to support these hypothesis generating views.