Short communication: distal adrenergic innervation remains normal after perivascular sympathectomy

Perivascular sympathectomy, which has been used for vasospastic disorders of the hands, was examined in experimental models. Perivascular sympathectomy was performed on the central ear vessels and forepaw metacarpal vessels of the rabbit and on the common digital vessels in the monkey. The effects on adrenergic nerves were studied using a glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence method. Adrenergic nerves were removed only at the site of the perivascular sympathectomy and the distal adrenergic innervation appeared normal. Because the distal sympathetic nerves appeared normal after the operation, it should rather be called adventitectomy and we feel its clinical effects should be reevaluated.